Course Syllabus

Course Title : Beyond Sustainable Construction:
Designing and Developing the Sustainable Community

Dates: Feb. 17-19, 2008 ( Please Note: This class will begin at 5pm on Sunday Feb 17)

Location: Yestermorrow Campus

Instructor Name (s): Christopher Sweetnam-Holmes

Email: cholmes@ecocite.ca

A. Course Description

Designing and developing sustainable community is about more than just buildings. Buildings often last only 25 to 50 years before they need substantial re-investment, but sustainable economic, social and cultural fabric creates communities that will choose a sustainable future for generations to come. The course will practically examine what economic, legal, contractual, cultural, marketing and communications strategies can be combined with sustainable building practices to initiate long term sustainable communities. Students will develop a long term sustainability strategy for a real development to be built and are encouraged to bring their own projects for discussion.

B. Course Objectives

• Explore definitions of sustainable community
• Develop an understanding of the forces that impact community sustainability
• Discover the e conomic, legal, contractual, cultural, marketing and communications tools that are available to shape sustainable community development
• Create a conceptual sustainability plan for a new development

C. Suggested/Required Reading

Here is some suggested reading- not required.

A New Theory of Urban Design -- Christopher Alexander, Neis, et al. ISBN 0195047537

A Pattern language – - Christopher Alexander, Ishinkawa, et al ISBN 0195019199

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed -- Jared Diamond ISBN 0143036556

Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate,-- Wilson, Uncapher, et al ISBN 0471188786

The Nature of Economies -- Jane Jacobs ISBN 0375702431

E. Course Schedule/Outline

5:00 PM DAY 1 START

1. Introduction
2. Introduction to sustainability
1. Sustainable communities, what does it mean.
2. Defining environmental sustainability

BREAK FOR QUICK DINNER (30 Min)

1. Sustainability in specific areas.- Expanding the definition of sustainability
2. Take to bed exercise

9:00PM END

_____________

9:00 AM START DAY 2

1. Recap Day 1.
2. Take to bed exercise discussion
3. Tools that can shape sustainability.

MORNING BREAK

1. Tools that can shape sustainability.
2. Mythology of place.

LUNCH BREAK (1 hour)

1. Case Studies

AFTERNOON BREAK

1. Workshop - Developing sustainability strategy for a new housing development.

5:00PM DAY 2 END

SOCIAL EVENING

___________________

9:00AM DAY 3 START

1. Morning Intro
2. Integrating architecture, public spaces, and sustainable community
3. Continue workshop

MORNING BREAK

1. Continue workshop

LUNCH BREAK (1 hour)

1. Present Workshop findings- With Class questions and critique
2. The future of sustainable communities

AFTERNOON BREAK

1. Discussion of student projects
2. class Evaluation

5:30 PM END