Seaside Pienzasociaty formed

The organizational meeting of the Seaside Pienza Society for Town Building and Land Stewardship took place in July in Pienza, Italy. The mission of the organization is to explore “how beautiful agricultural lands can be saved from sprawl and how compact cities with edges can make that possible,” according to Phyllis Blyweis, executive director of the Seaside Institute, which will manage the society until a nonprofit corporation can be formed. The founders of the society were Seaside developer Robert Davis and prominent architects Ray Gindroz and Leon Krier. Davis got the idea for the project when he studied Italian hill towns for six months — the result of his winning the Rome Prize from the American Academy in 1991. Pienza was the first citta ideale, or ideal city, planned during the Renaissance. The first gathering included architects, developers, planners, government officials, and chefs and others associated with the food industry. Paul Murrain, director of the urban program of the Prince of Wales’s Foundation for Architecture and the Built Environment, also attended, and brought a statement from Charles. “You are at the beginnings of a new organization and I wanted to salute you as you tackle so many vital issues that will be of profound significance to our descendants. Your agenda is impressive and ambitious and I do so hope that my own foundation ... can collaborate with you on a variety of initiatives and programs.”