JOSEPH ZEAL-HENRY; is a cultural worker bridging public service, cultural production, and spatial innovation for the public good. Currently serving as Director of Cultural Planning for the City of Boston and Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP. Here is his INFO, E-MAIL and Instagram.

PROJECT INDEX [WORK IN PROGRESS] PROJECT INDEX

PUBLIC SERVICE

Making Space for Culture
East Bank
Designing a Circular Economy Primer
A House for Artists

CREATIVE PRODUCTION

Proximity Continuum Film
Proximity Open Rehearsal
Dancing Before the Moon
(Venice Architecture Biennial 2023)
SHUBZ at the V&A
SHUBZ at SOAS, Festival of Ideas
Sound & Solidarity
WE ARE HERE at the RIO
NOW YOU KNOW
SOUND ADVICE Branding

SPATIAL INNOVATION

Proximity Continuum Boston
Dox Thrash Garden
SUPA SYSTEM
National Galley 200
Co-Living in Countryside
A House for Britain
Graveney School Sixth Form Block
Wembley Park Drive
Wayland Close
Good Grief Tomb

{image 1}

{image 2}

BRIDGING PUBLIC SERVICE, CREATIVE PRODUCTION & SPATIAL INNOVATION BRIDGING PUBLIC SERVICE, CREATIVE PRODUCTION & SPATIAL INNOVATION BRIDGING PUBLIC SERVICE, CREATIVE PRODUCTION & SPATIAL INNOVATION

Joseph’s a distinguished designer, curator and ubanist whose multidisciplinary career spans cultural planning, urban design, and public service. As the Director of Cultural Planning for the City of Boston, Joseph plays a pivotal role in shaping the city’s creative economy by leading projects that prioritize cultural infrastructure and community engagement. His work includes the revitalization of the Boston Center for the Arts, the reimagining of The Strand Theatre, and a transformative project that integrates music rehearsal spaces with public housing, creating a dynamic environment for artistic expression and community growth. Through his leadership, Joseph ensures that arts and culture remain at the heart of Boston’s urban development, securing long-term investments in the city’s cultural infrastructure.

In academia, Joseph is an Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP, where he leads a final-year Advanced Architecture Studio. His teaching focuses on rethinking North American infrastructure through cultural and social theories, with an emphasis on addressing urgent environmental and social challenges. Joseph encourages his students to explore innovative design solutions that contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. His commitment to education extends beyond Columbia, as he was a 2024 Loeb Fellow at Harvard GSD, where he investigated the intersection of cultural production and public infrastructure. During his fellowship, he collaborated with leading artists and designers, including Tania Bruguera, to develop a public art project commissioned by Harvard University.

Joseph’s contributions to the global cultural landscape are extensive. In 2023, he co-curated the award-winning British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, which explored themes of identity, culture, and community through innovative architectural and artistic practices. His role as co-founder of Sound Advice further demonstrates his commitment to addressing social issues through creative means. The platform, which examines spatial inequality through music and narrative, has gained significant recognition for its forward-thinking projects, such as the NOW YOU KNOW publication and the Sound Advice Awards. The platform has been featured in prominent publications, including Dezeen and Icon Magazine.

Before taking on these influential roles, Joseph worked at the Greater London Authority, where he led high-profile cultural and regeneration projects, including Eastbank and the Thames Estuary Production Corridor. He also pioneered ecological urbanism initiatives, helping to integrate circular economy principles into urban planning policies.