In 2007, the United Nations estimated that, for the first time, more than half of the world’s population lived in cities. The ongoing urbanization of the human population represents an enormous change for our environmental, economic, social, and cultural practices. The creation and operation of cities is a leading contributor to climate change, and the way we manage architecture, infrastructure, and landscape must change if we are to avoid its worst effects. Designing sustainable cities has become an imperative. At the same time, the city is a cultural landscape. From its origins in antiquity, the city has been a place for the exchange of goods and ideas and place for us to congregate and share in the riches of a public realm. Cities are, perhaps, our greatest artistic achievement as a species.
The central question asked by this course is: how do we balance the ecological and social imperatives of our time with the cultural and aesthetic functions of the city? There is no easy answer to this question, but in our pursuit of one we will investigate theories, technologies, and practices of city making in broad terms. Historical episodes in the development of architecture, infrastructure, and urban planning will be examined to provide context for our analysis of the contemporary city as a complex system. Throughout the course, both Japanese and global examples will be considered. Key topics covered include aesthetics, demographic change, design, energy use, economics, and social patterns insofar as these influence the processes and outcomes of urbanization. Students are encouraged to be critical of the concepts presented and to form and express their own opinions.