Philip Bess: Urban Design and Sacred Space

Philip is Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame, where he specializes in urban design and theory, with a particular interest in Catholic and classical humanist intellectual and artistic traditions in the context of modern American life and the contemporary culture of architecture and urban design. Philip’s research has been supported by grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, The Graham Foundation, The Historical Society of Boston University, and the Notre Dame Tocqueville Program. ​In this episode, Philip and I discussed the complex and fascinating connection between urban planning, spirituality, and the profound shifts brought by modernity, including the influence of the automobile on cityscapes. We explored ways to reintegrate the sacred into contemporary city design in order to enhance well-being and spiritual fulfillment.