Aaron Kelley, LEED AP, ASLA: Sense & The Singularity: Designing Tangible Landscapes in an Evolving Global Reality

SPEAKER BIO:

As a Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, and Director at James Corner Field Operations, Aaron Kelley insists that creative and humane designs are best accomplished through rich interdisciplinary collaboration. Aaron has worked to enhance living systems around the world, focusing not only on the craft of placemaking, but also on the shape of our collective imagination. At Field Operations, he has led various projects, including NBCUniversal’s expanded studio campus in Los Angeles, the winning commission for Taopu Central Park in Shanghai, and the award-winning “Urban Metabolism” exhibit for the International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam. In addition to his project work, Aaron is a guest lecturer and studio critic at various institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, Rhode Island School of Design, and La Universidad Europea de Madrid.

Lecture Description:

Human habitat in the 21st century might be described by two, unprecedented themes:

1. The fragility and interconnectedness of environments impacted by humans (e.g. climate change, deforestation, etc.)
2. The emergence of virtual society as a new form of habitat, communication, and community (e.g. social media, artificial intelligence)

Through the lens of a contemporary landscape architecture practice, this presentation serves to remind us of the incalculable value of our tangible relationships with the earth and our communities. Together, we will navigate the intricacies of designing living systems at various scales, and uncover the potential for resilience, equity, and joy in every act of design.

Learning Objectives:

After attending the lecture, participants will be able to effectively:

1. Describe the evolving role of landscape architecture in the construction of resilient and equitable cities.
2. Advocate for the value of living environments in an increasingly virtual world; from the scale of the human body, to the scale of the garden, to the scale of the city.
3. Recognize opportunities to foster joy, fulfillment, and creativity through design and collaboration.
4. Embrace a renewed sense of inquiry into the scale and impact of each design project.

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