{twohundredfiftythings} is a tiny R package that allows the user to access Michael Sorkin’s list of things an architect should know. The list was originally published in “What Goes Up: The Rights and Wrongs to a City” (Sorkin (2018)).

I was inspired to make this package after listening to 99% Invisible’s 400th episode: “The Smell of Concrete After Rain”. Hearing Roman Mars read through a small selection of these things, I decided to read the entire list. I figured it would be nice to read one of these every once in a while, so I made this package to return a random “thing” from the list.

I was also inspired by my dear friend Katie Jolly’s R package, {advicegiveR}. Katie introduced me to 99pi, and I am forever grateful.

You can install the development version of {twohundredfiftythings} using remotes::install_github()

remotes::install_github("eroten/twohundredfiftythings")

The only function is what_should_an_architect_know(). To get a random thing, leave the inputs empty.

library(twohundredfiftythings)
library(dplyr)

set.seed(99)
what_should_an_architect_know()
#> [1] "The Nolli Plan."

You can also access a specific thing from the list.

what_should_an_architect_know(40)
#> [1] "What the client thinks it wants."

Input a vector of integers to get multiple things from the list.

what_should_an_architect_know(thing = c(1, 80))
#> [1] "The feel of cool marble under bare feet."
#> [2] "The reasons for (borders’) tenacity."

You can access the full list, as well.

head(things_an_architect_should_know)
#>   n                                                                  thing
#> 1 1                               The feel of cool marble under bare feet.
#> 2 2        How to live in a small room with five strangers for six months.
#> 3 3 (How to live with) the same five strangers in a lifeboat for one week.
#> 4 4                                                The modulus of rupture.
#> 5 5                              The distance a shout carries in the city.
#> 6 6                                             The distance of a whisper.

Please note that the twohundredfiftythings project is released with a Contributor Code of Conduct. By contributing to this project, you agree to abide by its terms.