NEXT ECO-CITY // Emergent Urbanism Symposium

Urban environments worldwide are in the midst of multiple shifts, driven by interconnected flows in capital, people, and resources at local, regional and global scales. It impacts not only cities but also the network of social and ecological systems well beyond their borders. In contrast to the complexity of today's urbanization, the concept of the "Eco-City", arguably dating back to the ideal of the 19th Century Garden City, seems like an overly simplistic and utopian vision. Yet, the imagery and language of an idealized "Eco-City" continue to shape the planning and design of contemporary cities while disregarding the vital complexity of contemporary urban conditions and issues. This symposium will examine today's multifaceted urban environment in order to explore emerging theories and practices that will enable us to address these critical issues. Specifically, it investigates three areas of knowledge and practices: emergent ecologies, emergent cities, and emergent tactics.

Emerging Ecologies
While early attempts to conceptualize urban ecological conditions primarily focused on traditional ecological methods and subjects, a new paradigm is emerging that embraces the complexity and uncertainty associated with coupled human/natural systems. This session explores the relationships between environment, equity, economy, and design in our rapidly urbanizing world.

Emerging Cities
This session examines the dynamics and implications of rapid urban growth in the emerging mega-cities of the global south. Critically engaging issues of environmental resilience and social equity as they relate to urban form at multiples scales, it explores the present and potential evolution of design, technology, policy and practice in these contexts.

Emerging Tactics
This session focuses on new approaches to remaking the urban environment that are distinct from the paradigm of master planning and conventional practice of design. It examines how seeing the urban landscape as a set of systemic and interactive matrices with interconnected and spontaneous possibilities can inspire new approaches and methods in design and implementation.

Schedule

April 7, 2011	6:30pm - 8:00pm	Kane Hall 120, UW Seattle Campus	2010-2011 UW Sawyer Seminar: NEXT ECO-CITIES Imaginations and Futures Kongjian Yu, Turenscape, Beijing Pierre Belanger, Harvard University Karen Seto, Yale University
April 8, 2011	8:30am - noon	Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Central Library	KEYNOTE Kongjian Yu, Turenscape, Beijing - sponsored by the 2010-2011 UW Sawyer Seminar EMERGENT ECOLOGIES Jane Wolff, University of Toronto Andy Karvonen, University of Manchester Kristina Hill, University of Virginia moderated by Ken Yocom, University of Washington Morning session provides 3 professional development hours
April 8, 2011	1:00pm - 5:00pm	Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Central Library	EMERGENT CITIES Chelina Odbert and Jennifer Toy, Kounkuey Design Initiative Viren Brahmbhatt, Pratt Institute Alfredo Brillembourg, Urban Think Tank moderated by Ben Spencer, University of Washington EMERGENT TACTICS John Bela, Rebar Nicholas de Monchaux, University of California, Berkeley Denise Hoffman Brandt, City College of New York moderated by Jeff Hou, University of Washington Afternoon session provides 3 professional development hours
April 8, 2011	6:00pm - 8:00pm	3X10/ Suyama	Concluding Reception at 3X10/ Suyama "New Eyes For Old: Legacies of Richard Haag at Gas Works Park" Sponsored by the Graham Foundation Hosted by 3X10/ Suyama Peterson Deguchi 2324 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

Sponsored by:

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

Information for Licensed Landscape Architects seeking Professional Development Hours:
The UW Department of Landscape Architecture is an approved provider of the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES). This symposium will provide up to 6 professional development hours (PDH). The sessions qualify under the Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) category of professional development. Each symposium session has been registered with the ASLA. More information regarding session descriptions and learning objectives can be found on the following ASLA website under our educational provider course list: http://laces.asla.org/

To Receive your “Certificate of Completion” for PDH:

The UW Department of Landscape Architecture will issue a “Certificate of Completion” to Landscape Architects according to the following process:

1. You must have your receipt scanned upon admission so that we can confirm your attendance.
2. Landscape architects who attend the symposium will receive a survey via email following the event.
3. Promptly complete and submit the survey online.
4. We will email your “Certificate of Completion” upon receipt of your survey response.

Now Urbanism, a 2010-2011 Sawyer Seminar generously funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and hosted by the Simpson Center for the Humanities, is a collaboration of the College of Built Environments and the College of Arts & Sciences, University of Washington, with support from the UW Alumni Foundation and the Graduate School. Now Urbanism is a central component of NEXT CITY, a two-year special initiative of the UW Office of the Provost that is focused on the challenges and opportunities of urbanization in the twenty-first century.