Crystallized Pedagogy

In his book, Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment, and the Human Prospect, David Orr called campus architecture “crystallized pedagogy” arguing that, whether intentionally or not, the way we design, construct, and operate buildings teaches building occupants and visitors about the values of the institution. Sustainable design strategies can often be either visible, expressive elements or invisible. When sustainable design is a project goal, visibly expressing the building’s sustainable design features offer an opportunity to add meaning. For example, the rain chains on these project teach visitors about the water cycle and the building’s stormwater management systems.

Credits and Links

Images 1-2 © Jonathan Hillyer

Image 4 © Richard Leo Johnson/Atlantic Archives, Inc.