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This is neat. It reminds me of being on college campuses where students have created new paths through grass bypassing sidewalks and paved paths. I always thoug

This is neat. It reminds me of being on college campuses where students have created new paths through grass bypassing sidewalks and paved paths. I always thought the worn paths should be incorporated into the "official" infrastructure somehow.

analog31 13y ago
According to legend, this was done at Wayne State University in Detroit.
saeranv 13y ago
Rem Koolhaas' design for the IIT Campus Center in Chicago takes this idea and uses it as a basis for generating the floorplan: "...OMA carried out a study to map the “desire lines” of student foot traffic across the campus. These intersecting diagonal paths are maintained inside the Campus Center itself..." - from the project description Check out the third image here: http://www.oma.eu/projects/2003/iit-mccormick-tribune-campus-center http://www.oma.eu/projects/2003/iit-mccormick-tribune-campus... One of my favorite buildings!
- jevinskie 13y ago
  It is a remarkably easy to navigate for how unique it is. Really a treat for the eyes! Crown Hall is also very beautiful: http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/1273704810-crownhall2.jpg http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/12...
benched 13y ago
"new PAths through grAss byPAssing sidewalks and Paved PAths" You might consider writing rap.
jay-anderson 13y ago
Apparently these are called 'desire paths' or 'desire lines' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path). I've heard this story as well. From this conversation (http://ask.metafilter.com/62599/Where-the-sidewalk-ends http://ask.metafilter.com/62599/Where-the-sidewalk-ends) it appears that people have heard that this technique was used on quite a few college campuses. (I wonder how many are actually true.)
fnordfnordfnord 13y ago
After a building project at Rice University was completed some time ago, they waited more than a year to complete the sidewalks. Prior experience had taught them that the students would walk the most efficient routes, beating a path where the sidewalks actually belonged.
smileysteve 13y ago
check out what the swedes are doing with this. these are called Desires
ohwp 13y ago
I think this is what Christopher Alexander did at the Eishin Campus. The first year they didn't pave. Only after a clear route was created by the students they paved that route.

analog31 13y ago

According to legend, this was done at Wayne State University in Detroit.

saeranv 13y ago

Rem Koolhaas' design for the IIT Campus Center in Chicago takes this idea and uses it as a basis for generating the floorplan: "...OMA carried out a study to map the “desire lines” of student foot traffic across the campus. These intersecting diagonal paths are maintained inside the Campus Center itself..." - from the project description Check out the third image here: http://www.oma.eu/projects/2003/iit-mccormick-tribune-campus-center http://www.oma.eu/projects/2003/iit-mccormick-tribune-campus... One of my favorite buildings!

jevinskie 13y ago
It is a remarkably easy to navigate for how unique it is. Really a treat for the eyes! Crown Hall is also very beautiful: http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/1273704810-crownhall2.jpg http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/12...

benched 13y ago

"new PAths through grAss byPAssing sidewalks and Paved PAths" You might consider writing rap.

jay-anderson 13y ago

Apparently these are called 'desire paths' or 'desire lines' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path). I've heard this story as well. From this conversation (http://ask.metafilter.com/62599/Where-the-sidewalk-ends http://ask.metafilter.com/62599/Where-the-sidewalk-ends) it appears that people have heard that this technique was used on quite a few college campuses. (I wonder how many are actually true.)

fnordfnordfnord 13y ago

After a building project at Rice University was completed some time ago, they waited more than a year to complete the sidewalks. Prior experience had taught them that the students would walk the most efficient routes, beating a path where the sidewalks actually belonged.

smileysteve 13y ago

check out what the swedes are doing with this. these are called Desires

ohwp 13y ago

I think this is what Christopher Alexander did at the Eishin Campus. The first year they didn't pave. Only after a clear route was created by the students they paved that route.