Professor of Philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lee Hardy received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Trinity Christian College in Chicago and his graduate degrees in Philosophy at Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. Specializing in modern philosophy and phenomenology, Prof. Hardy has published works on David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Edmund Husserl. Since the late 1990s, he has turned attention to issues in urbanism and urban design, publishing in the cultural history of urbanism in the Anglo-American tradition, and teaching a course on urban design during the January Interim at Calvin College. He makes his home in the Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids.
"Lee's brief responses to the typical academic criticisms of New
Urbanism are the most elegant and concise I have ever read."
--Stefanos Polyzoides, Partner, MOULE & POLYZOIDES, Architects and
Urbanists, Pasadena, California"With the precision of a
philosopher, the patience of a teacher, and the depth of a
theologian, Lee Hardy has deftly combined autobiography, history,
economics, anthropology, biblical wisdom, and common sense to
produce The Embrace of Buildings. Intended for fledgling urbanists
generally but with a special nod to Christian congregations, Lee's
succinct and engaging account of the elements and principles,
personal pleasures, objective benefits, and sacred implications of
life in traditional city neighborhoods is both a fine introduction
to urbanism and an attractive invitation to further on-site
study."
--Philip Bess, Professor of Architecture at The University of Notre
Dame and author of Till We Have Built Jerusalem: Architecture,
Urbanism, and The Sacred"In this marvelous little book, Lee Hardy
performs a feat of inverse magic: he makes the city that's right in
front of you suddenly appear as if for the first time. Imagine a
Christian philosopher taking you on an intellectual tour of your
built environment: you'll see sidewalks and subways with new eyes.
You'll begin to see how your commute and zoning codes are matters
of justice and love of neighbor. You'll realize that bus stops and
bike lanes have something to do with the kingdom of God. This is
discipleship for the streets."
--James K.A. Smith, Calvin College, editor of Comment magazine and
author of You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit"The
'built environment' is a topic that almost nobody knows they care
about until someone helps them see that it is the hidden key to
almost everything else. One would be hard pressed to find an area
of social concern that doesn't have a central built environment
component. Christians who care about their neighbors and the health
of our culture should care deeply about this topic. I can think of
no better guide to help Christians navigate this topic than Lee
Hardy. Lee has been thinking about and teaching on the built
environment for a couple of decades now and his mastery of this
subject comes through on every page. I can't recommend this book
highly enough."
--Eric O. Jacobsen, author of Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New
Urbanism and the Christian Faith"The Embrace of Buildings is a
vital, mind-expanding, and paradigm shifting read for anyone
sensing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News for everyone
and everything. Setting his sights squarely on the built
environment Lee Hardy not only helps us to see the places we
inhabit afresh, but dares us to wonder how our personal and
ecclesial practices might actively participate in realizing more
fully God's Shalomic imagination within our neighborhoods. This
book represents a new frontier in Christian mission."
--Dwight J. Friesen, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, co-author of The New
Parish, co-founder of the Inhabit Conference, and core faculty of
Leadership in the New Parish
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