Thinking territorially centers design’s ethical commitments to nature and future generations. Territorial design invites engagement with a variety of built and unbuilt environments in response to the multi-scalar, multifaceted challenges of climate change—spanning urban hinterlands, rural villages, jungles, deserts, and oceans. While disrupting the rural-urban and nature-human divides, territorial design also challenges the disciplinary boundaries between architecture, landscape and urban design.

This design roundtable convenes four researchers, designers, and educators working across rural and urban contexts in different parts of the world—from Massachusetts to the Mekong Delta. The first part of the event discusses research. In the face of climate change’s complexity, uncertainty, and immense scale, what role does design play? How can designers define and scope their work to remain both manageable and impactful? The second part shifts to design pedagogy, examining how research and teaching influence one another. Student projects from the speakers’ courses will be exhibited during the event.