Courses Relating to Sustainable Cities

Architecture 502 Advanced Topics in History and Theory --- The City in History and Tomorrow: Toward a Theory of Human Ecology. Spring 2009
The objective of this seminar was to construct a matrix for the design of a sustainable urban community. The research considered the areas of sensory-emotive environment, the natural environment, the urban environment, the built environment, and the socio-cultural environment.  Seminar participants divided into five groups and received critical feedback from visiting faculty and fellow students. The final product – the elements of a sustainable community- consisted of both written and visual presentations. The work will be posted on this site and a publication is anticipated.

Architecture 502 Advanced Topics in History and Theory --- Human Ecology and Design: Architectural Theory from Neutra to Ramachandran. Fall 2009
This seminar focused on the idea that nature is the basis of design and that human are by their very biology programmed to desire this way of building. To establish this point, the course was divided into specific topics with readings that supported that topic, each having its own week for discussion. The topics ranged from human ecology, nature, design of cities, and biophillic design to the human brain and studies on the way the brain processes information and aesthetics.  Each week two students led the discussion presenting ideas from the readings as well as from outside sources with the presentation consisting of graphics and slides.  The semester’s research culminated in a final essay synthesizing the students’ ideas over the course of the semester.