I heard a story on NPR some time ago, and am having no luck finding it now. It was about a man, possibly a professor of architecture, who taught students how to mindfully walk and study the suburban landscape. Who was this person?
...and when I say 'some time ago', either on
Morning Edition or
All Things Considered.
My google-fu has failed me, as has a search of NPR's site. The story seemed specifically about these walks he would make with his students, pointing out things in the landscape and visible infrastructure that might be otherwise missed.
In one case, he pointed out some interesting things about the overhead power/phone/cable lines.
In another example, he pointed out that surveying flags were starting to pop up alongside old railroad lines and in other areas. From this he made some predictions about future development of these (apparently) long-neglected areas.
Does this ring any bells with anyone? Who was this man, and where can I learn more about him? Was it possibly Christopher Alexander? My impression from memory was that interviewee was somewhat older, and I don't recall him speaking with any sort of accent. He may have been either a professor of architecture, or possibly urban planning.
It seems to have been one of those stories that stuck with me for a long time, because it has since changed the way I observe the man-made objects in my local area - overhead wires, pipelines, rail lines, oddball antennas, and so on. It's gnawed at me since that I don't know who this was.
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posted by occhiblu at 1:35 PM on October 10, 2007 [1 favorite]