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Introduction: The City Is My University 9 Gro Brundtland’s now classic definition of sustainable development says that it ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ Ecopolis is about much more than pragmatic responses to resource shortages, careful management of energy, and achieving sustainability; although these are included. Ecopolis is about the future, and the future is already here. Climate change is a reality—Adelaide just ended a 15-day heatwave over 35°C, which an atmospheric scientist says is a once-in-3000-year event. Too often, the future is seen as another place separated from the present by some kind of gulf or chasm that we have to miraculously cross. In truth, the future is embedded in the now. Everything we do now shapes it. Most buildings and people who will be in 2050 are already here. Gro Brundtland’s future generations are amongst us; we are answerable to them, and cannot afford to compromise their abilities. Part I Propositions, Theory and Practice Propositions – Epistemology – Perspectives – Projects I People, Places and Philosophies Increasingly across the globe people live in big cities. Many live a mobile and spatially extensive way of life characteristic of modernity. Research and action to make this urban way of life more environmentally sustainable will contribute most to sustainability. The real challenge is not building eco-villages but making the modern city, and its lifestyle, environmentally sustainable. Civilisation has transformed the planet with two faces: urbanism and agriculture. Accelerated by fossil-fueled industrialism, human activities have dramatically affected ecosystems. Changing weather patterns threaten coastlines and institutions. We face sustaining civilisation amid unprecedented change. The challenge is making cities that sustain both culture and the planet. New urban ecosystems must be constructed; substantial systemic changes are needed. The Pattern That Connects In recent years, many books deal with sustainable, green or ecological cities. They contain useful information but lack a concerted attempt to identify active linkages between aspects. Such linkages are merely implied by the city’s presence of all these elements. An overarching theoretical construct is missing to pull pieces together and make more sense. Part One – People, Places and Philosophies Essential points connect ideas valuable for making ecological cities as defined by Ecopolis Propositions. I look for connections in what Gregory Bateson might call ‘the pattern that connects’. Propositions describe cities’ relationship with biosphere and human culture leading to a concise definition of city purpose—creating complex living systems essential for human survival. Some ideas are well-represented, others less so; forgive any shortcomings in representation. You may find writers or ideas not included you feel should be. Ecopolis theory includes anything fitting propositions. It aims as evolving knowledge towards creating and managing complex living systems crucial for human survival. We must make cities sustain both culture and planet. New urban ecosystems are needed, dealing with substantial systemic changes. The solution to civilisation’s problem is civilisation itself; our definition must expand consciously to encompass new understanding of building purpose and relationship to biosphere. This is an evolutionary imperative called Ecopolis—a word appearing in various places and times. In following pages I hope demonstrate that city-making solution lies in how we make cities, necessary means and knowledge exist but need better sense connections learned differently. First part presents Ecopolis Propositions, discusses epistemology for urban ecology, reviews theories and practice. People, places and philosophies relevant to Ecopolis thesis are identified; existing architecture and human settlement theories reviewed. Chapter 1 introduces idea of Ecopolis, sets out propositions describing cities’ purpose and essential determinants of ecological cities. These emphasize culture’s importance in storing and transmitting knowledge, need for conscious modern culture development. Cities as ‘engines of survival’ in unprecedented ecological disruption are introduced. Popular culture identified as key ideas distribution means; urban cultural fractals proposed to catalyse adaptive activity through demonstration projects containing Ecopolis essence. Chapter 2 explores evolving urban ecology epistemology—finding architecture and planning knowledge organisation wanting, proposing cybernetic approach offering coherent relationship between architecture, city-making, ecology and life sciences. Epistemology outline built around adaptive response and connectivity across traditional disciplines, popular culture fluid forms. Chapter 3 pursues ecological design epistemology evolving from powerful ideas about city-making, ecosystems, regionalism and architecture extant for decades. Here part reviewed. 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