Architecture and Landscape Design for an Uncertain Future

(3 Credits)

How do we design for an uncertain future? How can design respond to the climate crisis in ways that mitigate impacts of the built environment? What are potential tradeoffs and unintended consequences of designing during the energy transition? Using Abu Dhabi as a practical lens, this course explores architectural and landscape sustainability, a method using design to respond to climate’s environmental impacts and strengthen community wellbeing. Students investigate the philosophical roots of environmentalism, navigate regional climate challenges, and cultivate design thinking skills through resilient technologies and AI performance modeling. Fieldwork visits to Masdar City, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2027 allow students to examine different visions of sustainability in practice and explore the values and interests they serve. Through daily design exercises, students integrate fieldwork and multiple perspectives on sustainable and resiliency principles with design. As a final project, students create an applied campus project for NYUAD, presenting their sustainable solutions to a faculty jury.