Beauty in Education and Practice

The destruction and banalization of beauty may be considered a major problem in the world. In the past century beauty has become suspect as a value; it is often seen as an unnecessary and unimportant luxury or frivolity. Architects and urban planners are uncomfortable discussing it. Yet, evidence shows its enduring power, importance and value in nature and human life. People seek beauty in their surroundings and value it. At the heart of many social and environmental movements is a vision of the beauty of the natural world, and of society living in harmony within it. In this conference we are concerned with applications that help to bring beauty back into our everyday ordinary life, building and construction. How might patterns help bring about beautiful buildings, building clusters, streets, grassroots actions, local activities and livable, beautiful, neighborhoods and cities? How can we learn to recognize beauty within our own selves, and use it as a guide to making a more wholesome, sustainable world? How can beauty be reintroduced as a core value in architectural education?