How people move shapes the plan

A brief tells us how a place is meant to be used. People tell us how it is used. The two are rarely the same, and the plan has to follow the second.

Desire lines

People take the shortest route that feels comfortable. A path that ignores that is walked around, cut across or left empty. We map the routes people already take and draw the plan along them.

Dwell points

Where people stop is as important as where they walk. A seat, a tree or an edge of planting gives a reason to stay. We place them where people already slow down.

Shade seeking and peak hours

In a hot climate, shade decides which spaces work. We test sun and shade across the day so the places people want to use are comfortable at the hours they want to use them.

This is why we design around observed behaviour, not assumed behaviour. It is also how the design earns trust: every move has a reason behind it.