CARTA 2015: A Symposium on Designing a Better Future
"So few cities are nice...Very, very few out of many thousands are really beautiful. Embarrassingly, the more appealing ones tend to be old." Alain de Botton
In his "How to Make an Attractive City," Alain de Botton says what many today think: our new cities do not equal our old ones. Is he right? Are we developing our cities to accommodate growth in the best ways? Are we making places that will be economically robust, environmentally and culturally sustainable? Are we enhancing the beauty, value, and identities of our communities with each new building we build?
Join your fellow professionals, academics, and special guests including, among others, architect and town planner Andrés Duany, Senior Director of the Preservation Green Lab at the National Trust for Historic Preservation James Lindberg, who will speak about the Older, Smaller, Better report, and Portland architect and theorist Michael Mehaffy, who will share his perspective on growth in Portland. The Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecture (CARTA) symposium will take place from 9:30am to 4:30pm on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning in the vibrant downtown of Denver, Colorado. We look forward to a day of learning, discussion and debate about these timely questions.
INTRODUCTION:
As American cities and towns build staggering amounts of new housing, as more historic buildings are bulldozed in neighborhoods and replaced with non-contextual infill, as suburbs expand outward and cities re-urbanize, it is clear that something is lacking in our architectural response. Whether we consider Peter Buchanan's "The Big Rethink" essays published in The Architectural Review in 2013, or Steven Bingler's and Martin Pedersen's December 15, 2014 New York Times editorial "How to Rebuild Architecture", or Jeff Sheppard's April 4, 2015 Denver Post editorial "Denver is a great city, so why the bad buildings?", architects and critics from Denver, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, London, Paris and more are realizing something in today's architecture is unsatisfying.
As architects question contemporary architecture, untold numbers of citizen groups fight against almost every new development project arguing that crime and congestion will increase, that light and open space will decrease, or that there will not be enough parking. Citizens argue against density, municipalities push for more, and friction between constituents builds. But are the anti-density, anti-growth refrains really the root of citizen concerns? Or is there unease more about new development that is unfamiliar in character and out of scale with the places they love and call home?
(Old and new development on West 35th Avenue at Navajo Street in Denver's Highland neighborhood shows contrasting ideas of how to build new housing in a city.)
BACKGROUND:
For the past 30 years traditional urban design methods and patterns have been studied, applied, and advanced by New Urbanists, resulting in many new traditional towns, retrofitted suburbs, Smart Growth, and Form-Based Codes. Can we also learn from traditional architecture?
There are traditional housing typologies rarely being used today that might provide more diverse and affordable options. There are historic patterns and design languages we could learn from to make infill more harmonious with the character of place. Perhaps connecting to such traditions can strengthen the identity and character of a community instead of erasing it. Perhaps the wealth of knowledge contained in traditional architectural patterns and methods can answer the chorus of criticism rising against much contemporary architecture.
The Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecture (CARTA) at the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture and Planning was established in 2015 to investigate and solve problems such as these. Join us for our first symposium, examine issues such as these and others related to the development of some of America's fastest growing cities, and discuss what positive alternatives traditional design can offer.
SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW:
During our one-day symposium, Sunday, October 4, you are invited to join with your fellow architectural, urban design, development, and preservation professionals to address the above issues. Subjects will include case studies from Denver and other American cities facing similar development pressures. Brief lectures will kick-off small-group discussion sessions where you will be able to discuss the issues presented and share strategies for improvement. Our goal is high-level discussions between fellow professionals, allowing each participant to expand their range of reference and to critically examine their own ideas for improving the built environment. Unlike most conferences, we aim not to present answers, but to raise questions and engage you in developing answers.
In addition to Sunday's symposium, there will be informal pre-event walking tours the afternoon of Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 3:00pm until 6:00pm. Participants will visit neighborhoods in Denver where new development is occurring, and share experiences and best practices with each other while in the field. Saturday evening will also include a welcome party and networking event beginning at 6:00pm.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3—3:00PM – 6:00PM
Join with your peers to visit some of Denver’s historic and developing neighborhoods and examine in-person the issues that will be discussed at Sunday’s symposium. Meeting points for walking tours will be announced.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3—6:00PM
Welcome cocktail party and networking. Location for reception will be announced.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4—9:30AM – 4:30PM
Listen to dynamic presentations, engage in debate on the issues, and strategize with your colleagues in small working groups. Continental breakfast and buffet lunch will be served. Sunday's symposium will be held at the College of Architecture and Planning, 1250 14th ST, 2nd Floor.
MONDAY—TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5-6
Don’t miss the informative sessions of the Traditional Building Conference: Materials and Methods, as it returns to Denver for the second time. See www.traditionalbuildingshow.com for further information. CARTA is very proud to host the Traditional Building Conference at the University of Colorado Denver.
FOR LODGING: Preferred Hotel Program: The University of Colorado Procurement Service Center has worked hard to develop a hotel program that benefits our travelers. The University’s negotiated rates at these preferred hotels are lower than the rates typically available at these properties. In some cases we have been able to negotiate added values and extra amenities for our travelers if they choose to stay at one of our preferred hotels. To book with one of our preferred hotels you can call the hotel directly. If you call to make a reservation directly with any of the preferred hotels, make sure to mention "The University of Colorado special rate". Group rates may differ.
For ease of locating lodging, see this google map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zzrOXFiqtTR4.kJISaYt0huV4&usp=sha...
PRICING:
Register before September 27, 2015 at a discounted rate:
- Professional - Symposium (Saturday AND Sunday) Early Bird Registration: $110.00
- Professional - Symposium (Sunday ONLY) Early Bird Registration: $90.00
- Student - Symposium (Saturday AND Sunday) Early Bird Registration: $55.00
- Student - Symposium (Sunday ONLY) Early Bird Registration: $45.00
- CU Faculty - Symposium (Saturday AND Sunday) Registration: $55.00
- CU Faculty - Symposium (Sunday ONLY) Registration: $45.00
Complimentary registrations for CARTA Faculty Council Members and Volunteers:
- CU CARTA Faculty Council Member: Free
- CU Student Volunteer: Free
Regular registration rates (From September 27 – October 4):
- Professional - Symposium (Saturday AND Sunday) Registration: $135.00
- Professional - Symposium (SUNDAY ONLY) Registration: $110.00
- Student - Symposium (Saturday AND Sunday) Registration: $67.50
- Student - Symposium (SUNDAY ONLY) Registration: $57.50
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS:
CHRISTINE G. H. FRANCK
Director, Center for Advanced Research in Traditional Architecture
College of Architecture and Planning
University of Colorado Denver
USPS Mailing address: Campus Box 126, P.O. Box 173364, Denver CO 80217-3364
Physical address: 1250 14th Street, Suite 2000, Denver CO 80204
Telephone: (303) 315-0063
christine.franck@ucdenver.edu
www.facebook.com/CUDenverCARTA
@CUDenverCARTA (CARTA)