Rendering of urban area with green roofs
EVENT

Metropolitan Whole Systems | Three-Part MUD Symposium: The Challenge of Whole Earth Urbanism

October 13, 2025

The Challenge of Whole Earth Urbanism

As part of the Master of Urban Design for the College of Environmental Design (CED), University of California, Berkeley, Peter Calthorpe is the principal instructor for “The Challenge of Whole Earth Urbanism,” a three-part symposium that will introduce the history and current challenges of Whole Systems Urbanism. Sponsored by HDR, this series of livestreamed events starts with Sustainable Communities, born at CED in the 1970s, it will highlight and debate the steps, lessons, and tools that have transformed the theory and practice of urban design.

Each individual program can be livestreamed with the links provided below. 

Whole Earth Urbanism and The Housing Crisis  

Occurred on September 22. 
Peter Calthorpe, Dan Parolek, Chris Calott 


New/Old Urbanism 

October 13, 5:30-8 p.m. PDT
Peter Calthorpe, Stef Polyzoides, Dan Solomon

In this session, Peter Calthorpe is joined by Stef Polyzoides and Dan Solomon to discuss New Urbanism. New Urbanism was born of multiple sensibilities catalyzed largely by Leon Krier and Jane Jacobs’ urban imperatives, combined with profound environmental and social movements. A group of five design firms came together to launch a movement to change the dominant suburban sprawl paradigm. On the West Coast, Van der Ryn/Calthorpe’s practice was developing ecological urbanism along with Dan Solomon’s city-centered work and Mole/Polyziodes' focus on Western traditional urban forms and architecture. On the East Coast, DPZ was pioneering traditional walkable neighborhoods such as Seaside, while Ray Gindoz focused on urban infill. Out of these designers and others, the practices and theories of the Congress for New Urbanism were born. Topics discussed include:

  • Origins of Sustainable Communities and New Urbanism
  • Transit-Oriented Development vs Traditional Neighborhood Design
  • Form-Based Codes vs Placetypes

Access Livestream Link, October 13


Metropolitan Whole Systems

November 10, 5:30-8 p.m. PDT
Peter Calthorpe, Joe Distefano, Robert Cervero

In this session, Peter Calthorpe is joined by Joe Distefano and Robert Cervero to discuss the two complementary directions New Urbanism took: one leaning towards reinterpreting historic urban and architectural norms at the neighborhood and town scale and the other focusing on regional issues of growth, metropolitan structures and their underlying policy. Transit Oriented Development grew from a regional perspective by reinventing the tradition of streetcar suburbs and focusing density in walkable nodes throughout a bounded regional growth pattern. Topics discussed include:

  • The Rebirth of Regional Planning
  • UrbanFootprint Analytics
  • Metropolitan Form Case Studies

Access Livestream Link, November 10