Drift / Dérive

I go on walks in the city with the intention of observing and documenting instances where designed systems meet unplanned, or spontaneous systems. 

I approach this kind of like a dérive – in the sense that I don’t set out on a predetermined trajectory. I either have a specific phenomenon that I am drawn to (like the acequias), or I set out to look for new ones.

-Gives me something productive to apply my hyper-awareness to

- Helps me discover and identify instances of unplanned, spontaneous occupation of space – which feeds into some of the themes that I am looking at in my own work

- This in turn cultivates my sense of HOPE  - because I don’t always have much faith in conventional planning. 

Here is how I go about it - I invite you to try it out : 

In silence

- Observe what the main designed elements are (buildings, benches, planters..)

- Look for unplanned, spontaneous systems (anthills, plants growing in the cracks in the pavement, birds nests, un-prescribed behavior… doesn’t have to just be nature VS manmade – could be deviations in expected behavior)

- Do the 2 coexist independently or do they start to blur or form a new, hybrid type of structure?

- Photograph or draw what you feel represents this meeting of these 2 systems.

2 apps for urban exploration :

- DRIFT :  http://www.brokencitylab.org/drift/

 - DÉRIVE : http://deriveapp.com/s/v1/

Also of interest - the Los Angeles  Urban Rangers :  Interpretive walks through the city

Psychogeography