Design, Law, Policy

Law has a powerful imprint on the design of the built environment. As much as technological innovation, market calculation, artistic creativity, and cultural norms, law shapes constructed objects through application of rules and precedents embodied in statutes, ordinances, regulations, and judicial opinions. Legal mechanisms such as zoning regulations, design review and guidelines, subdivision controls, historic preservation ordinances, and building codes intentionally or inadvertently influence the \”look and feel\” of communities in ways not fully appreciated by scholars, professionals, and the public. This course explores the goals, rationales, and approaches of law as it affects the design of the built environment.