CNU XII - Meta-Physical Planning
http://www.cnu.org/cnuxii/cnu-program.html#sun

We are spiritual beings in the bodies of evolved apes. New Urbanism is about the physical creation of places that support neighborhood and community, because to properly function in the material world we need places both comforting to the body and worthy of the spirit.

All the New Urbanists whose built work I most admire realize that New Urbanism is at the service of something greater than materialism. Namely, that the ultimate reason for the polis is the support of the Good Life, simultaneously acknowledging that We Are All Connected and that the development of society and democracy requires that we learn how to Know Thyself.

If you believe some or all this -- or want to explain why you don't -- come to the Meta-Physical Planning session at CNU XII.

At CNU VI in Denver, I hosted the first Meta-Physical Planning session. We met in a room with a pyramidal roof designed by Michael Graves – in a space meant to hold fewer than 100 people, we had more than 140 pile in. (To download the PDF file from that meeting, click here.)

"That was the best thing I've seen at the CNU," Andres Duany told his plenary session after attending the Meta-Physical Planning meeting at the Denver Congress. "It has revived my faith in the congresses." The Meta-Physical Planning sessions have been among the best-received annual events ever since.

At CNU XII, Meta-Physical Planning will meet Sunday morning. Speakers will include Phil Bess and Dan Slone. I will host the session, most of which will be devoted to group discussion.

We hope to have a weekend-long session of Meta-Physical Planning, most likely at the Garrison Institute.

If you would like to an invitation to that event, please send us your e-mail address.