Liberal Green Urbanism

Abstract

When my undergraduate students first realize their interests in the environmental design disciplines, they are enmeshed in Fordham University's very strong liberal arts program. I remember the reverse was true when I taught at Parsons School of Design; my architecture students sometimes struggled to find an outlet for their interests in the liberal arts. After a brief history of liberal arts "education" and design "training", some student work will be presented, to suggest: how design and liberal arts education might fit together; that some students approach design through larger liberal arts issues; interdisciplinary tests of design: sustainability, urbanity; and the case for re-integrating design and liberal arts education. Liberal Arts educators often consider design antithetical to their pedagogy; design seems too narrow and vocationally focused. On the other hand, design educators leave little room for the Liberal Arts in their curricula; design seems already so all consuming, a complete worldview in itself. Both sides may be fooling themselves: the liberal arts are fundamental to effective design critique and a genuine sense of proportion, while design is a test to which the concerns of the liberal arts may be held.