As urban areas continue to accommodate an ever-growing population, how can urban inhabitants embrace design ideas that reconnect human beings with nature and re-conceptualize cities as resilient ecosystems? In this course, we will explore this question through a variety of topics related to contemporary design theories and practices in urban planning, landscape architecture, and green technologies. As an introductory course, LA322 aims to offer foundational knowledge relating to living materials and systems, urban ecological design, and biophilic design in the built environment, while exploring opportunities and cultivating creativity for planning and design practices.