Ecological Urbanism weds the theory and practice of city design and planning, as a means of adaptation, with the insights of ecology (the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment and the processes that shape both) and other environmental disciplines. Ecological urbanism is critical to the future of the city and its design: it provides a framework for addressing challenges that threaten humanity, such as climate change, rising sea level, declining oil reserves, rising energy demands, and environmental justice, while fulfilling human needs for health, safety, and welfare, meaning and delight.
This class provides an overview of theory and practice followed by the opportunity to take the lessons learned and apply them to the development of a program for the City of Philadelphia, which will address three pressing issues in synergistic ways: environmental restoration, neighborhood transformation, and educational reform. Students will learn from Philadelphia's leaders in these fields and, at the end of the semester, will present their proposals to them.
The class builds on Anne Spirn's three decades of action research in the West Philadelphia Landscape Project and Mami Hara's experience assisting with the planning and implementation of Philadelphia's landmark program, Green City Clean Waters. Hara, chief of staff at the Philadelphia Water Department and a landscape architect and planner, will assist with the class.
Student work will be evaluated in four ways: class attendance and contribution to discussions (25% of final grade); the weekly journal (25%); a case (10%), presented on the class website; the final proposal, presented and posted on class website 40%).
Please refer to MIT's policy on academic integrity. Students with documented disabilities or any other problem that may affect ability to perform in class should see me early in the semester so arrangements may be made for accommodation. For more information on academic accommodation, see MIT's Division of Student Life.
Enrollment is limited to fifteen students.