The “Modern” Campus: Case Study in (Un)Sustainable Urbanism

Abstract

The design of campuses, like other aspects of contemporary environmental design, must be reassessed in light of the challenge of sustainability. This paper considers the “modern” campus design typology (including business campuses, commercial districts, hospitals, and schools) as a design paradigm for pedestrian public space, with implications for human flourishing and well-being. Its findings point to a serious problem: while the foundational design theories of a century ago have been widely critiqued as an obsolete way of thinking about cities, human nature, biological nature, and even the nature of mathematical and physical structures, we find that, in the case of campuses, the pervasive influence of these obsolete theories can still be seen in practice. Specifically, a new “techno-modernist” aesthetic offers visually exciting new “neoplastic” forms but is built on essentially the same discredited concepts of urban space. We propose a more directly human-oriented design methodology to promote the well-being of occupants, and improve outcomes for creative development, education, and health. This analysis resurrects tested traditional design tools and validates them through scientific findings from mathematics and neuroscience. It also adopts the older “design pattern” methodology of Christopher Alexander by linking it to biophilia and neuro-design.

Exploring the Impact of Campus Landscape Visual Elements Combination on Short-Term Stress Relief among College Students: A Case from China

“…Carefully designed landscape forms are more easily perceived and understood by observers with abundant knowledge and rich ideas. Similar findings were observed in studies conducted by Michael W. M. et al, which noted that individuals tend to pay more attention to architectural facades and some artificial architectural decorations when appreciating campus scenery [55]. Xu et al found in an experiment comparing the recovery capabilities of Chinese cultural and natural landscapes that cultural landscapes have a similar impact on mental recovery as natural landscapes.…”

Evaluation and Optimization of Sense of Security during the Day and Night in Campus Public Spaces Based on Physical Environment and Psychological Perception

“…In conclusion, the related research on campus public spaces and the sense of security has accumulated a substantial body of work, primarily focusing on perspectives such as environmental design and planning [49], psychological factors [50], and technological applications [51]. This has provided a solid research foundation for exploring the evaluation and optimization of a sense of security.…”