To Truly Experience A City, Make No Plans

This column argues that aimless wandering is essential to exploring the character of a city, and offers advice to travelers and city dwellers on letting the urbanism of cities guide their experience.

1 minute read

May 22, 2007, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"The point of the exercise is threefold: first, it's to free you from the shackles of a schedule for 24 hours, second, it's to let you see your environment in a slightly different context and third, it forces you to consider what elements are necessary to weave a strong, diverse urban fabric."

"This might sound like a piece of advice for budding young architects or urban planners, but to become a real official resident of a city or truly fall for a place you've got to let the city push, pull, divert and distract you till you're either worn down from over-stimulation or you reach the point where you decide that you and the city are never going to be the best of friends."

Friday, May 18, 2007 in International Herald Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

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