Can you learn Architecture from '"The"' Building itself???

Question

Hi, i am a 19 y/o architecture student. I am taking classes and have gotten mixed responses so I'm hoping the community can help on this one. If i was to travel to Paris or Beijing during the summers or breaks could i learn anything about their buildings by going to them? Do they have copied information/blueprints stored at them (not necessary to take but to look at). Like the techniques, information and figures of people/materials used on the Water Cube in Beijing. I would love nothing more than to go to the buildings themselves to learn and be inspired.

Answer 1

Plans or Blueprints of buildings are usually held in a city planning department of the local city hall in the US.  As for other countries, you may want to find the local authorities and explain that you wish to understand the design of a particular building.  Understand that it may require an additional fee to look at these prints.  Most will be sketches as they don't normally allow just anyone to see detailed blueprints.  But in the US, you can.