Olivia Chung

Olivia Chung

The general layout of the map I drew is very similar to the official university map, with buildings appropriately located relative to each other. The level of detail for different areas are very apparent though. The areas with the greatest detail include the cluster of River Houses and Harvard Yard. However, most of Harvard Square, the Business School, the Athletic fields, the area up to and including the Quad and east of the River House boundaries have significantly less detail. This difference can very likely be attributed to the way that I use the space. Because I do not visit these areas as regularly, my memory of them are evidently vague. On the other hand, the River Houses and Harvard Yard, which I walk through daily, are drawn with greater detail and accuracy. These differences suggest that how people use and relate to the city are acutely individualized. If I lived in the Quad and was an athlete, my vision of Harvard would be uniquely different. What I notice and not notice and even what I choose to include and not include uniquely represent my experience. With a city being used by a multitude of people in several different ways, designing spaces that consider as diverse perspectives and functions can be critical to creating a space that will be well-remembered by all.