Building Communities that Work: What Village Homes Can Teach Us Today

A symposium that examines what Village Homes can teach us today about climate resilience, ecological infrastructure, and social cohesion.

In 1975, a radical design experiment in community living began in Davis. The Village Homes neighborhood took root in a town shaped by the influence of the university, progressive local government, and a culture open to forward thinking. A big vision – and a bit of luck – helped turn that moment into a model for environmental sustainability and a strong community. As Village Homes marks 50 years, its relevance to today’s climate and social challenges are explored in a UC Davis Design Museum exhibition. The exhibition is the launching point for this half-day symposium that includes civic leaders, scholars and practitioners from the disciplines of Community Regional Development, Design, Environmental History, Agroecology, and Geography reflecting on what Village Homes can teach us today about climate resilience, ecological infrastructure, and social cohesion.