Anyone concerned with the history, tradition, and culture of our built environment will come across the term 'public humanities' sooner or later. At the interface between an academic discipline and the media-oriented culture industry, this subject has established itself not only in the US, but increasingly in Europe. Whether this field of research remains a product of Western culture will only become apparent in the coming years. However, linking the architectural debate with humanities is a significant concern of the papers compiled here. The architectural-theoretical drafts provide academic food for thought. Moreover, they encourage reflection on the discipline of architecture and stimulate urban design in the twenty-first century. This title collects lectures in a class on public humanities at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.