CSU, Chico News

Witold Rybczynski, architect and prolific writer on architecture, urban design and city life, will visit Chico from Sept. 26 through Sept. 29 as a President's Visiting Scholar at California State University, Chico. His visit inaugurates the Humanities Center yearlong theme, The Built Environment.

Rybczynski (his full name is pronounced Vee-told Rib-chin-ski) will give two public and free lectures on Sept. 27-28. On the evening of Sept. 27, he will give a public lecture on his new book concerning a Beaux Arts villa in Miami, "Vizcaya," in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) 134 at 7:30 pm. A reception will follow.

Rybczynski will also be present for a walking tour of the town and campus on Wednesday morning, Sept. 27, the day of the lecture. If you would like to join the tour, meet at 9:30 am on the Esplanade, directly in front of the Bidwell Mansion.

"The Built Environment series and Rybczynski's work is of special interest to the community of Chico," said Laird Easton, interim director of the Humanities Center. "Rybczynski addresses issues of public space and planned growth. I encourage interested members of the community to join Mr. Rybczynski on this walking tour."

On Sept. 28, Rybczynski will be interviewed on stage by Easton in Harlen Adams Theatre, PAC 144, from 5 to 7 pm. The discussion will explore the built environment theme, ranging from interior design to gardens, private houses, public monuments, towns and cityscapes.

A working architect, Rybczynski is the Martin and Margy Meyerson Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of books including "City Life: Urban Expectations in a New World," "Looking Around: A Journey through Architecture," and "The Most Beautiful House in the World," and "Home: The Short History of an Idea." He has written for publications including The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and The New York Times Magazine.

The theme is being underwritten by the President's Visiting Scholars Fund and a grant from Tom DiGiovanni, founder and president of New Urban Builders.

"I've followed Rybczynski's work; he has influenced my belief that there is a right and appropriate way to create homes and communities," said DiGiovanni. "With deliberate planning, places are created that people love and thrive within."

The Humanities Center Built Environment series will bring a wide range of outside speakers to campus. For more information on upcoming speakers and events, visit the website.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 21st, 2006 at 8:30 am and is filed under 2006 Fall.