Comprehensive responses to climate change require the development of resilient biological and built systems that are adaptive in the face of shifting of climatic influences. While most discussion today focuses on reducing the rate of Earth's climatic change, little attention is being given to the design and development of buildings and landscapes that can support human livelihood across wide climatic variations. This course highlights strategies for creating integrated building and landscape systems that can function in an age of climate extremes; longer droughts, hotter summers, colder winters, higher winds, increased pests, heavier precipitation events, and other patterns that will test our ability to thrive in a place. Field trips to projects that are developing climate-adaptable human habitat systems will be a central component of the course. Participants will also design a landscape-building system in which they apply course concepts. Major topics covered include microclimate design, water systems, food systems and architectural strategies. All Levels.

Certificate in Sustainable Building and Design