Tag Archives: Buildings

2. DESCRIBE YOUR TOWN/CITY

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General:

How far is the next town or village from yours? How far is it to the nearest large commercial center?

Get to a main crossroads area of your neighborhood

Describe the type of buildings: height, size, type of roofing, building material, windows, decorative features.
Where are main buildings located? post office? government buildings? banks? schools?
Is there a central plaza or green area? Are there green areas throughout the town? If so, what plants or trees are there? How do people seem to use these areas?

What kind of transport seems to be available?

How do people get to your town? Location of train or bus stations, airport, car parking
How do people get around town? bus service, taxis, private car, walking, bicycles? Are there street signs? Other directional signs? In which language(s) are they written?

Note the location of major and minor roadways, of walkways, of possible shortcuts

When you return home:

Add any new information to your map

3. A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

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Look at how space is used in your neighborhood

How much space is there between buildings?
Do buildings usually face in a certain direction?
How are boundary lines designated?
Is there a fence around the yard? Is it a gated area? If so, how is an outsider admitted inside?
What types of out-buildings (garages, storage sheds, granaries, barns, chicken coops, toilets, etc.) do you see and where are they located in relation to the house?
Are there different out-buildings in an apartment setting?
Are other buildings located near homes or apartments? What are they used for?
Does it appear that some kind of building code is observed? Explain.
Are there places where people sit around to talk? What might this tell you when you try to make friends with your neighbors?
Are there empty spaces between houses or shops? How are they used? Are they clean?
What other space is used besides what you see on ground level? the roof? stair wells?

Communal space

Is there a central well, pump, or faucet where people draw water?
If you noticed a central green area, how is this used? by whom? At what time of the day, week, or month? Is it more busy some times than at other times?
How much of the space in front of a house or shop is maintained by the occupant of that building? Are there things in that space that declare ownership?
Is there any other use of space that you can see at this point, as a special place for butchers to slaughter animals, for traveling entertainers to set up their tents, or for itinerant salespeople to set up their wares?

4. GETTING INSIDE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE

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Do most people live in apartment buildings or in single family units? Does the location of the residence make a difference? urban vs. rural? city vs. suburban?

If the buildings are multi-storied, how do people get to the next floor? Are there elevators? How many floors do they service? What is the condition of the stairwells? Are they used for more than going up to the next floor? Is the roof accessible and utilized?

Look at the windows. Are they barred or open? Do people open their windows or do they keep them closed for the most part? Do the windows have any decoration, like curtains, window shades, flowerboxes or potted plants, etc.?

Is the dwelling surrounded by a gate? or can you walk right up to the front door? How does one announce one’s presence or ask for admission? Is there a knocker? a doorbell? or does one simply call out?

Where is the door located? on street level? at the top of the stairs? Is there more than one door into a home or apartment? If so, which is for family use, and which is for guests?
When you enter the house, what are your first impressions? Do you enter directly into the house? or into a courtyard? Does this depend on the type of dwelling?

Is there an open area the family uses? Where is it located? in the front or back of the house, in the center, on the roof? Is it cemented in? What does the family use the space for (work, storage, social time, drying clothes, other)? Is this a secure area or is it accessible to others? Is there a time of day when the area is more used than at others?

34. AGRICULTURE AND LAND USE IN RURAL AREAS

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Do people own their homes? or are they renters? What is their responsibility to the owner? and the owner’s responsibility to them? How is the rent paid (by a portion of the crop harvested, or by a monetary payment)? Where is the residence located in relation to the fields?

What crops are planted? Draw up a calendar showing the events in the yearly agricultural cycle, noting time of field preparation, planting, weeding, and harvest for the various crops. How are crops stored? Which are grown for family consumption? which for cash crops?

Observe, participate (as possible) in and record how field work is done, tools used, labor patterns, etc. Take pictures if appropriate.

What kind of buildings are constructed in the fields? Do members of the family stay in their fields for part of the year? Who stays and for how long and why? How often are crops planted on the same piece of ground? Is there a rotation of crops? How do people decide where they will make their fields? How are boundary lines marked?

How valuable is land ownership? Is land passed from one generation to another? How can more land be acquired? Who holds the records of land ownership for the area? Who holds the title to land, and what do the title “papers” look like? How are infringements challenged and decided?

Can land be rented or leased? What portion of any produce must be given to the owner? Can land be purchased? Can the purchaser obtain a clear and permanent deed?