74 Economic dimensions and socio-cultural patterns
fluctuate rapidly and widely. Social patterns may also fluctuate widely, but usu-
ally somewhat more slowly, since social interactions provide a network for stabil-
ity, helping a community more easily get past a difficult time. Culture, normally,
is still more stable, often gradually changing and adapting over generations
(Forman1995).
Although sometimes broadly used to include social, economic, political and
other dimensions, I use culture in its traditional core sense (Seddon 1997,
Nassauer1997,Buell2005).Culturerefers to the traditions, aestheics, arts, lan-
guage, morals and learning of a group, that are passed through generations.
Thus cultural cohesion is a bonding force, a long-term linking of people by
common aesthetic, intellectual, and moral traditions. Culture provides stability.
Culture may be rich in either rural or urban settings, but tends to be con-
centrated, organized, and institutionalized in many cities (LeGates and Stout
2003). Museums, art associations, universities, language schools, concert halls,
theatres, mechanical/technical institutes, and major libraries are manifestations.
Architecture, art, and music around a city provide daily reminders of culture.
The urban region normally has considerablecultural diversity,thedifferent
cultures coexisting. Normally cultural groups are somewhat separate but spa-
tially overlapping (Hall2002,LeGates and Stout2003). Where people are packed
together, some conflicts are inevitable, though mutual respect for different cul-
tures often makes things work, i.e., supports cultural diversity, in a region. A
central value of cultural diversity is the richness of art, music, dance, celebra-
tions, traditions, dress, language, and much more, provided for an urban region.
These are deep enduring values which lend welcome and vitality and meaning
toaplace (Eaton1997,Buell2005,Nassauer2005). Think of culturally diverse
and vibrant Buenos Aires, Paris, New York, and San Francisco.
Human culture relative to natural systems is now explored from three
perspectives: (1) nature in culture; (2) biophilia and the building; and (3) urban
agriculture. The third topic also helps to integrate economic dimensions, social
patterns, and culture.Nature inculture
Nature permeates and is of central importance in human culture, just as
ecosystem services provide major economic values to society. Art, songs, celebra-
tions, stories, and traditions are rife with nature. For some people, nature has a
for-its-own-sake intrinsic value, irrespective of human attitudes. Thus we have no
inherent right to destroy or degrade nature. Other people treasure the ‘‘existence
value” of nature. I value the migrating herds of caribou in the arctic and the
existence of aardvarks and tomb bats, even though I have never seen, and might
never see, them in the wild. Still others gain inspiration from nature -- the