Extra Credit - Public Space Observation - Fatima Paulina Lopez Diaz

 

Public Space Observation

When I first heard about Whyte’s ideas on public spaces, I thought I understood them. His theory made sense—how people behave in public areas isn’t random. There are patterns, small details that make a place feel welcoming or uncomfortable. But reading about it felt kind of flat. It wasn’t until I had to actually go out and observe a public space for the class project that the theory really came alive for me.

For the project, I picked the lake area at the campus. At first glance, it seemed simple: a few benches, some trees, the lake, and people coming and going. But as I spent time there—watching, taking notes, sketching out movement patterns—I started noticing things I had completely overlooked before. And that’s when Whyte’s theory began to click in a different way.

One of the first things I noticed was how people were drawn to the edges of the space. Even when there were empty benches in the middle, most people sat along the borders, facing out. Whyte talks about how people naturally prefer to sit where they can watch what’s going on without feeling exposed. It was something I had read, but seeing it happen over and over made it feel real.

Another thing I observed was how much people were influenced by each other. When one person sat on places where the sun hits, others followed. Even small details mattered. People avoided benches on hot days, or spots too close to trash cans. These are things Whyte observed in his studies, and I started seeing them in mine too. It made me realize how much design affects how spaces are used—and how easy it is to overlook these factors unless you’re paying close attention.

Doing this project changed how I experience public spaces. Now, whenever I walk through a park or plaza, I automatically start observing—who’s sitting where, how people move, what’s attracting attention. Whyte’s theory isn’t just something I understand better now—it’s something I see in action all around me.

In the end, going out and doing the observations helped me connect theory to reality. It made Whyte’s ideas not just something to memorize, but something I could actually see, feel, and learn from in a much deeper way.