Kaja Kühl

Kaja Kühl

Kaja Kühl directs the Hudson Valley Initiative at GSAPP. The initiative enables research and design projects that enhance the built and natural environment by expanding social impact design, taking research and scholarship beyond the classroom. In addition, she coordinates the 5 Borough Studio, the first studio in the Urban Design program with a focus on New York City’s five boroughs. 

She has taught and lectured at universities in the US and abroad and has been a Visiting Professor at the IUAV Venezia, Italy. Kaja received her Diploma in Architecture from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany and an MS in Urban Planning from Columbia GSAPP. She is the founder of youarethecity, a research, design and planning practice focused on creating dialogue about the urban environment. Informed by the belief that everyone has agency in shaping their own environment, youarethecity collaborates with institutions, individuals and non-profit organizations to produce maps, diagrams, writings, designs, websites, events and exhibitions about urban spaces. Prior to founding youarethecity in 2008, she worked for the New York City Department of City Planning as an Urban Designer and team leader where she was responsible for design guidance and development of public policy for rezoning applications and city initiatives.