05.20.08
Introduction

Although everybody can subjectively experience the urban environment, few are able to objectively perceive any of its components. Until we understand the basic vocabulary and components in our immediate surroundings, we are unable to effectively teach others about this urban environment. The speaker believes it important to identify basic urban elements and then place them in a larger context of date, technology, government regulations, and demographic changes as well as an ever-changing sense of beauty and style. The urban built environment is something that many dismiss as beyond non-specialist comprehension, however, it is possible to teach understanding about the vocabulary and elements of any urban center by breaking it into selected components. With time, an objective understanding of selected elements will lead towards comprehension of the built and natural urban environment and the eventual ability to integrate into the larger context of history, technology, government and economics.

The speaker, John Craib-Cox, has many years experience teaching architecture and design history, historic preservation, urban growth, as well as the history of Chicago. He has taught these subjects to all levels, elementary through graduate school. In addition, he has trained interpreters for several architectural tour groups.