Community, Ecology, and Design

 

Environmental Studies 147

Mondays 1:15 - 4:15

Holden Studio

 

Instructor:  Paul Faulstich

Office:  Broad Center 214; ext. 18818

Office Hours:  Wednesdays 9:00 to 11:00

 

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE:  PURPOSE AND CONTENT

 

This course is geared toward envisioning and creating an ecological future.  We study aspects of community planning, architecture, urban design, food production, and transportation in an exploration of alternatives to our current patterns of social living.  Combining ecological design principles and social concerns, the premise of this course is that we must consider the consequences of our individual and community actions in the ways we live. 

 

The topics investigated during the semester explore alternatives shaping the contemporary debate over growth.  This course offers environmental perspectives, social theories, concrete examples, and practical experience for making our communities socially healthy and ecologically benign.  We cover the history and theory of ecologically-sound planning, and are introduced to a variety of planning perspectives including eco-villages, social ecology, participatory planning, ecopsychology, and bioregionalism.

 

Through case studies we critique community design projects, and we spend substantial time working on group models of ecological living.  In addition to identifying new directions for planning, this is a how-to course, advocating a fundamental change in our patterns of building, and providing the means as well as the principles for change.  The words 'ecology' and 'economy' both have their roots in the same Greek word: ecos, meaning household.

This course seeks to provide us with the hope and means to put our household back in order, reuniting us with the logic of ecosystems.  As such, we investigate the concept of 'community', and try to understand how to strengthen human communities while reuniting them with natural communities.

In this course, we study living patterns at both the micro and macro levels; the houses in which we dwell, and the towns, urban neighborhoods, and rural communities.  As cities fast become humanity's major habitat, the challenge of the future is to make them socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable.  For this to work, the active participation of people in shaping their urban environment is crucial.  But the challenge goes well beyond this; we need to understand the impact of our urban lifestyle on the planet.  We must take responsibility for creating lifestyles compatible with sustaining a healthy bioshpere.

This course introduces students to a variety of interrelated ideas including regenerative design, collaborative communities, co-housing, participatory planning, and living machines, traffic-calming, and building materials.  We explore efforts to create green cities and eco-villages, to transform mega-cities, and to dwell in restorative ways.  The course is a primer for students interested in self-reliance, ecological design, social justice, and environmental health.

 

Ecology, Community, and Design is for students interested in architecture, urban planning, social ecology, and environmental advocacy.  Its premise is that we must consider the environmental consequences of our individual and community actions in everything from shopping to the construction techniques of major developments.  It offers perspectives, examples, and guidelines for anyone wanting to make our homes and neighborhoods more livable.  This course, then, is for students seeking to understand our present conditions and to develop a vision of a sustainable future.

 

 

STUDENT EVALUATION AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

This course combines extensive studio work with lectures, films, discussions, and field trips.  Regular participation in each of these components is essential, and consistent attendance is expected.

 

Students work in teams on design problems, and construct drawings and 3-D models of their design schemes.  The plans developed by teams are evaluated on the merits of their architectural and community design, ecological sensitivity, creativity, and applicability.  A group portfolio and mock-up constitutes the final studio project.  They are individually discussed and critiqued by the entire class.  While this course does not cover drafting technique, over the semester each student develops a personal portfolio of sketches and drawings.  Included in this portfolio is a notebook of ideas, lecture notes, field trip entries, and other relevant materials.  These portfolios/journals help us to put ideas onto paper, and to rework and refine our designs.

 

Field trips constitute a major element of the course, and students must be prepared to take trips, some of which may extend beyond the regular class meeting time.  Walking through buildings and communities will help us get a first-hand 'feel' for various design options; to experience what works and what doesn't, and to encounter the designs in context and on their own terms.  Field trips enable us to more effectively move from theory to experience, and then into practice.  Students are encouraged to develop a service component to their coursework by volunteering at a community based organization concerned with issues pertinent to the course.

 

Final grades are worked out on an individual basis, evaluating the overall commitment, progress, strengths, and weaknesses of each student.  Additionally, students will be evaluated by their peers, assessing their contribution to the final group project.

 

Required Texts: Reshaping the Built Environment, Charles Kibert

Village Wisdom: Future Cities, Richard Register

Rebuilding Community in America, K. Norwood and K. Smith

                                    Ecological Design, Sim Van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan

                                    The New Natural House Book, David Pearson

Schedule

 

DATE TOPIC READINGS
Sept. 6

 Introduction to the Course
Defining Community
  
Sept. 13




 Developing a Sense of Place
Mapping & Bioregionalism
Defining Public Space in Claremont;
The Colleges & the Village

 Village Wisdom, pp. 26-30; 49- 53;
59-67
Rebuilding, pp. 1-49
Natural House, pp. 10-28
Reshaping, Chs. 2 & 9
Sept. 20


 Field Trip: North Claremont
Architectural Design
Form and Function
Eco. Design, pp. 3-56
Village Wisdom, pp. 181-186
Reshaping, Chs. 3 & 4
Sept. 27


 Building Materials & Sewage Treatment
Energy  & Solar Design
Zoning Codes		 Reshaping, Chs. 6, 7, 8 & 14
Natural House, pp. 142-184
Oct. 4

 Field Trip: Eco-Village

 Village Wisdom, pp. 37-39; 142-144
Natural House, pp. 29-141; 258-273
Oct. 1




 Urban and Rural Planning 
Earth Architecture
Film: Ecological Design
Landscaping
SELECTION OF DESIGN TEAMS 		Futures, pp. 36-49
Rebuilding, pp. 291-341
Design Technical Skills (handout)
Natural House, pp. 186-221
Reshaping, Ch. 13
Oct. 18 Fall Break; No Class  
Oct. 25

 Field Trip: Cal-Earth

 Natural House, pp. 222-257
Reshaping, Chs. 11 & 12
Nov. 1



 Directed Studio Work
Design and Diversity
Collaborative Communities
Film: Geomancy East and West 		Eco. Design, pp. 57-103
Futures, pp. 60-87
Rebuilding, pp. 51-101
Nov. 8





 Food and Sustainability
Transportation
Density
Shopping, Work, and Recreation
Field Trip: 
Center for Regenerative Studies		 Futures, pp. 49-59
Eco. Design, pp. 103-172
Rebuilding, pp. 103-289; 343-381
Village Wisdom, pp. 31-36; 149-157;
165-168
Nov. 15

 Directed Studio Work

 Village Wisdom, pp. 169-176
Reshaping, Ch. 18
Nov. 22

 Directed Studio Work

 Village Wisdom, pp. 192-196; 204-205
Reshaping, Chs. 15 & 16
Nov. 29 Directed Studio Work Village Wisdom, pp. 213-216

Dec. 6

 

 

 

 

Student Presentations

Community Presentation