One of my favorite videos from school, "Social Life of Small Urban Spaces" by William H. Whyte. The film is nostalgic not just for it's dated display of NYC hipsters cruising girls in Seagrams Plaza, but also for it's obvious and often forgotten observations of how spaces are used. People watching in Paley Park (an absolutely magical space I might add), tempting water features that allow for wet experimentation in Denver, varied elements integrated into the fabric of the space that invite multiple modes of use - seating, leaning, standing, gathering.
Spaces are often designed by people who don't understand, or refuse to acknowledge, the people who will be using the space. Open up any wonderfully glossy design journal and you'll see...well, most often than not, a space complete absent of any people.
One of my goals is to create more meaningful spaces that endear the users to the space via personal experiential connections. This video is a prime example of how this is deeply individual and cannot be stifled without negative effects. Additional information about the video can be found at:http://vimeo.com/21556697
