In 2007, humans became for the first time more urban than rural in our settlement patterns, and by the end of this century some two-thirds of people worldwide will be living in cities. This represents a noteworthy historical inflection point. Importantly, there are significant differences in the biophysical and psychosocial needs of people in urban areas at different stages of development. The intent of this collaborative workshop is to co-generate an integrally informed approach to urban planning, design, and management. Following a brief context-setting introduction, participants will self-organize into the 4 Quadrants and co-generate goals and strategies that address the physical infrastructure (UR), socio-ecological systems (LR), psychological experience (UL), and cultural meaning (LL) of cities and districts in different developmental contexts. In so doing, this workshop aims to generate a conceptual foundation to improve the livability and sustainability of urban habitats worldwide where the vast majority of people will soon live, work, and play.

Urbanization is one of the great trends in the history of homo-sapiens and planet Earth itself, and by the end of this century some three-quarters of all people are expected to be living in cities. This has potentially profound implications for the evolution of humans and the biosphere. As such, urbanization is a rich topic for integral inquiry. An early pioneer of urban planning, Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932), developed a school of thought that held striking similarities to integral theory, but he did not have the benefit of drawing upon the integral synthesis that would emerge roughly a century later. Drawing upon a paper published in mainstream scholarly literature, this presentation provides an introductory primer to some of Geddes’ noteworthy “thinking machines,” while assessing correspondence between his work and four important integral themes: Interdisciplinary Holism; Evolution, Development and Complex Systems; Human Agency and Ethics; and Spirituality. In so doing, this presentation hopes to revalorize the work of a somewhat forgotten urban thinker, while elevating urbanism as an important topic for integral inquiry.