The Human Experience

"The city of the bus rider or pedestrian does not resemble that of the automobile owner."

The study of the "every day" by Margaret Crawford was very intriguing to me because it's very focused on the human experience in architecture and ways that human culture bleeds through on even the most mechanical architecture. Spaces that were not designed to be public markets can spontaneously become so. People reclaim spaces and utilize them in a way that fosters community and culture. I think this can become more difficult when architecture and/or society does not want to allow this. Rules, regulations, gates, and other obstacles can prevent in-between spaces from being accessed to all citizens, which divides the city and the community.

"It's burdens and pleasures are distributed unevenly, according to class,

age, race, and gender."

Coming from Interior Design with a minor in psychology, I try to design for the people and how they use the space as much as possible, but this is more interior focused and from a very specific context (white woman from America). I think it's important for us as architects to understand our biases and try as much as possible to create flexible spaces that can give back to the communities we build in, providing space for the people to gather and use how they would like. It's more difficult to try and consider all of these different backgrounds and cultures and how they can utilize one space. But it's something I think I and others should strive to do as it helps foster better communities and really transforms architecture from a singular piece that announces "I'm made by this architect" to a web of buildings that benefits society.