Symbolic Urbanism

The Institute for Symbolic Urbanism

The Institute for Symbolic Urbanism (ISU) is, in a sense, a response to an observation made by Camillo Sitte, author of The Art of Building Cities.  Written in 1889, he states, “At present there are severe limitations upon art in building cities.  We can no longer create a superior, finished work of art like the Acropolis of Athens.  Even if the tremendous cost were supportable, we lack … a universally accepted explanation of reality throbbing in the daily life of the people – that could find expression in such a work…” (emphasis added).

The ISU seeks to explore the reasons why we have lost that “universally accepted explanation of reality,” and trace its source back so as to locate our culture in context and thus understand ourselves more clearly. The Institute seeks a new way forward for the purposes of urban life; to experience the life of a city and make use of urbanism as a setting and tool for the advent and experience of some as-yet unrealized spiritual rebirth.  What will constitute that new vision is of course unknown, but it will no doubt function as a continuation and expansion of what has gone before.  So too will its urban expression.