5. In Collaboration with the Offline Collective, Emily and Jasmine present,
Placewatching Brooklyn
McCarren Park / July 24 2021
From Offline Collective Event
about the offline collective: the lockdown is over; it's time to log off. we're bringing together people and places for creative and thoughtful in-person events
Questions 1-8 ask participants to observe the people around them in McCarren Park area.
Themes:
Talking to People
Time
Chose a person
Move around
Observe
Move around and Draw
Themes:
Talking to People
Time
Chose a person
Move around
Observe
Move around and Draw
select image to enlargewhat is placewatching? 🔭
if people watching involves imagining the stories behind the strangers who pass you by, "placewatching" is observing the relationship of people to the physical environment they're in.
field observation is one of the critical first steps of the urban planning process. it requires layering many kinds of information together, across space and time, to provide a holistic picture of what makes a place a place. in a casual, exploratory setting, we'll be simulating this work that urban sociologists and designers do to gather stories and data about a site of interest.
by interacting with inhabitants, visitors, and passerby, we can begin to understand the neighborhood and its perspectives better: what made that person cross here or stop there? is this a typical location for you? other questions might ask for direct personal reflection about how a space makes us feel. how does physical terrain shape our own psycho-social experience?
if you're nervous about speaking with strangers, don't worry! observation methods include sketching, diagramming, writing, and discussing in a small group. we’ll use a note-taking structure and activity tool kit to help us record and map our behaviors and feelings.
we hope you'll join us for this journey 🗺️
learn more:
- placemaking is a closely related but subsequent stage of urban design. it taps into a local community's assets, inspiration, and potential to create public spaces that promote people's health, happiness, and well-being.
- urban observation comes in many forms! here's one beginner-friendly toolkit if you're looking to get a sense of what we might be doing.