We have created a separate blog specifically to document the City Right of Way c.r.o.w. walks but will also keep posting notification of future c.r.o.w. walks on this blog too.
See c.r.o.w.
http://crowwalks.blogspot.com/
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Wednesday 15 September 2010
CITY RIGHT OF WAY (CROW) Alley Way Walk, Saturday 2nd Oct., 2 pm Ormeau Bridge
CITY RIGHT OF WAY (CROW) Alley Way Walk, Saturday 2nd Oct., 2 pm Ormeau Bridge
Following the 'City Right of Way' meeting at PLACE, the first walk, suggested by Niamh McDonnell is an alley-way walk in the Ormeau Rd area. The aim of the walk is to see how far one can get through this area of the city by using the alley-ways, and testing their semi private status.
This walk will place on Saturday Oct 2nd. Walkers convene at Ormeau Bridge at 2pm, all welcome!!
Suggestions for future walks also welcome.
Following the 'City Right of Way' meeting at PLACE, the first walk, suggested by Niamh McDonnell is an alley-way walk in the Ormeau Rd area. The aim of the walk is to see how far one can get through this area of the city by using the alley-ways, and testing their semi private status.
This walk will place on Saturday Oct 2nd. Walkers convene at Ormeau Bridge at 2pm, all welcome!!
Suggestions for future walks also welcome.
Tuesday 7 September 2010
Talks about Walkls: Stalker Visit Follow up discussion Report by Alice Woods PLACE 7 / 09 / 10
Following the success of Rome based urban research group Stalker’s visit to Belfast, a round table discussion was held today at PLACE. The discussion focused on various issues, predominantly centred around the questions raised by Stalker on their visit and the questions that we have begun to ask ourselves about the city following the work done by Stalker.
Aisling O’Beirn of Flaxart studios, who were instrumental in organising the research trip, began the discussion by introducing Stalker and their philosophy and detailing the activities that the group engaged in whilst in Belfast. Aisling explained that one of the main motivations for bringing Stalker to Belfast was in the hope that a larger ‘mapping project’ may be initiated in the city. As Aisling and others who were present at many of the Stalker events, talked about the walk which took place – they agreed that we should attempt to continue and build upon the philosophy of learning and information gathering through walking. As Stalkers beliefs suggests, although an organic process, a walk should be planned with a route to follow (loosely) and an overriding question giving reason for the walk. Along the planned route, deviation and exploration are encouraged and seen as valid ways of learning new things about an old city. Distraction is essentially at the core of what they believe and a walk should follow instinct rather than road.
When Stalker came to Belfast, they led a group along what was once the Number 77 bus route and through such deviation and exploration they came to a number of conclusions; they felt that Belfast was a difficult city to walk with many boundaries unable to be traversed. Their ideals that a walk should be fluid, meandering and playful were difficult to practise in a city of walls, gates and locked doors. Through these observations, many questions were raised about the issues of public and private space; who controls these ‘buffer zones’? And what does it mean for the city and its inhabitants. A suggestion was made for one day of the year to allow freedom and complete right of way for the city’s inhabitants. The physical barriers in Belfast were striking to Stalker and through the eyes of a stranger became striking too for those on the walk, what could happen in these lost and forgotten, ‘in-between’ spaces? What are the alternatives to walls?
Mike and Aisling brought up the issue of the way in which we view spaces and the opportunity for looking at something on a different scale or from a varying perspective. They put forward the example of the public gardens in which Hydebank young offenders centre is situated – a number of fir trees are planted in the grounds, but only when viewed from above does one realise they are actually planted in a Union jack formation.
On to the issue of conducting walks in Belfast, the idea that the walk becomes a medium for information gathering was spoken about. The mapping element; which in Stalkers case is the ultimate end product (on a physical sense) should be a non-hierarchical, collaborative effort – using Google maps and the blog as a starting point, the map should become multi-layered with strata of photos, video, text etc gathered by those who took part. The map should become a multi-layer document which evolves over time.
We discussed varying ideals of philosophies to look to for further inspiration, such as the ‘transect walk’ style – using a local guide to create a narrative and the project, ‘Ambulation’ done by the Plymouth Arts centre. It was also suggested to look at Georges Perec’s book, ‘Species of Spaces and Other Places’.
The issue of deciding on a walk and a purpose for the walk was then raised, it was suggested that the walk could coincide with FABs current work on connection in the city, an architectural planning style map has been created and it was put forward that this ariel map could be build upon by adding extra dimensions as previously discussed.
When thinking about the practicalities of walking in potentially contentious or hostile areas which in themselves are often impenetrable, we agreed that strangers were afforded more privileges in the city than inhabitants and so an element of interest of theatricality may prove useful. There may also be a facet of exchange, or giving something back to the city from the walk to gain allowances. There was also the acknowledgement of the inherent difficulty of gaining a strangers perspective in your own city.
A popular suggestion for a walk was an alley-way walk, trying to see how far one can get through the city by using the alley-ways moving through the city in semi-private spaces and also moving through varying periods of architecture and experiencing the impact of that. Work is now being undertaken to research and organise the walk through an area of Belfast through these often ignored veins and capillaries of communities.
Meeting Report by Alice Woods
Aisling O’Beirn of Flaxart studios, who were instrumental in organising the research trip, began the discussion by introducing Stalker and their philosophy and detailing the activities that the group engaged in whilst in Belfast. Aisling explained that one of the main motivations for bringing Stalker to Belfast was in the hope that a larger ‘mapping project’ may be initiated in the city. As Aisling and others who were present at many of the Stalker events, talked about the walk which took place – they agreed that we should attempt to continue and build upon the philosophy of learning and information gathering through walking. As Stalkers beliefs suggests, although an organic process, a walk should be planned with a route to follow (loosely) and an overriding question giving reason for the walk. Along the planned route, deviation and exploration are encouraged and seen as valid ways of learning new things about an old city. Distraction is essentially at the core of what they believe and a walk should follow instinct rather than road.
When Stalker came to Belfast, they led a group along what was once the Number 77 bus route and through such deviation and exploration they came to a number of conclusions; they felt that Belfast was a difficult city to walk with many boundaries unable to be traversed. Their ideals that a walk should be fluid, meandering and playful were difficult to practise in a city of walls, gates and locked doors. Through these observations, many questions were raised about the issues of public and private space; who controls these ‘buffer zones’? And what does it mean for the city and its inhabitants. A suggestion was made for one day of the year to allow freedom and complete right of way for the city’s inhabitants. The physical barriers in Belfast were striking to Stalker and through the eyes of a stranger became striking too for those on the walk, what could happen in these lost and forgotten, ‘in-between’ spaces? What are the alternatives to walls?
Mike and Aisling brought up the issue of the way in which we view spaces and the opportunity for looking at something on a different scale or from a varying perspective. They put forward the example of the public gardens in which Hydebank young offenders centre is situated – a number of fir trees are planted in the grounds, but only when viewed from above does one realise they are actually planted in a Union jack formation.
On to the issue of conducting walks in Belfast, the idea that the walk becomes a medium for information gathering was spoken about. The mapping element; which in Stalkers case is the ultimate end product (on a physical sense) should be a non-hierarchical, collaborative effort – using Google maps and the blog as a starting point, the map should become multi-layered with strata of photos, video, text etc gathered by those who took part. The map should become a multi-layer document which evolves over time.
We discussed varying ideals of philosophies to look to for further inspiration, such as the ‘transect walk’ style – using a local guide to create a narrative and the project, ‘Ambulation’ done by the Plymouth Arts centre. It was also suggested to look at Georges Perec’s book, ‘Species of Spaces and Other Places’.
The issue of deciding on a walk and a purpose for the walk was then raised, it was suggested that the walk could coincide with FABs current work on connection in the city, an architectural planning style map has been created and it was put forward that this ariel map could be build upon by adding extra dimensions as previously discussed.
When thinking about the practicalities of walking in potentially contentious or hostile areas which in themselves are often impenetrable, we agreed that strangers were afforded more privileges in the city than inhabitants and so an element of interest of theatricality may prove useful. There may also be a facet of exchange, or giving something back to the city from the walk to gain allowances. There was also the acknowledgement of the inherent difficulty of gaining a strangers perspective in your own city.
A popular suggestion for a walk was an alley-way walk, trying to see how far one can get through the city by using the alley-ways moving through the city in semi-private spaces and also moving through varying periods of architecture and experiencing the impact of that. Work is now being undertaken to research and organise the walk through an area of Belfast through these often ignored veins and capillaries of communities.
Meeting Report by Alice Woods
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Monday 16 August 2010
Talk at Belfast Exposed: Friday 13th August, 2pm Change Gaze to Change the World
The Stalker talk at Belfast Exposed, Change Gaze to Change the World, was well attended with around 35 people. It was the last event of Daniel Jewesbury and Aisling O’ Beirn exhibition Belfast Exposed
Stalker talked about their model of practice, giving examples of previous projects, such as working with Roma Community in Rome to make a house for the Roma camp in the city and replicating a movable, suspended Islamic ceiling from copper wire hung from different lengths of rope. The ceiling was constructed using the skills of Roma and Kosovar migrants in the city of Rome. It was an example of creating a network through doing. Stalker and the 'ceiling' travelled throughout the Arab world. The ceiling and the house gave Stalker the opportunity to talk about various forms of action that might be useful in the Belfast context.
A productive discussion followed where we talked about Thursday's walk and the idea of using walking as a strategy to develop a City Right of Way. There was considerable interest in the audience in pursuing this. Potential walkers please keep an eye on this blog.
Suggestions of possible walks in the city welcome.
Venue: Belfast Exposed, The Exchange Place, 23 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FF
Sunday 15 August 2010
Thursday 12 August 2010
Primavera Romana - Walking for a U Turn: Common Design Practices for Social Change
Stalker's talk 'Primavera Romana - Walking for a U Turn: Common design practices for social change' was well attended with a full house at PLACE
Primaveraromana is a common design project activated by Stalker in order to generate and share social knowledge and awareness on urban changes. This by sharing, with more and more people, the experience of walking across and mapping the changes of the contemporary roman post urban territories. Primaveraromana is promoting the general states of citizenship together with local communities, associations, researchers and artists, in search of new practices, poetics and politics of coexistence in the emerging byondcity dimension.
Stalker used this case study to outline how walking is core to their practice as a way of networking and linking different sets of people involved in various forms of self organisation. They also presented the idea that participation in the walks is an active way to experience the city. Whilst on the walk you are not passive being led by a guide but you become an essential element of the walk and an active participant in debates about the city.
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Stalker in Northumberland St Wednesday 11th Aug
Stalker attended a public meeting in The City Life Church on Northumberland St. this evening. The meeting was called by Belfast City Council to discuss plans for environmental improvements between the gates at the Northumberland St interface which will be funded through Peace III funds via Belfast City Council. Architecture students from Queens University presented a project where they had suggested ways in which the space could be changed. More information on their project Reserved Road is available on their blog http://reservedroad.blogspot.com
The core ideas of this student project project are being developed by BCC along with local residents and the landscape architect Sally Visek of Designs Matter. The key issue discussed by local residents was whether the changes to the space are about its form or its function. Whilst people were in favour of brightening up the area they were also enthusiastic to see how the space can be used in a positive way given that the gates will remain there for the foreseeable future.
The meeting was informative in highlighting the complexities of interface locations and also allowed Stalker to met with interested parties from the Nothumberland St area who will meet and participate in tomorrows public walk retracing the route of the no 77 bus. The Northumberland St area is on the route of the walk.
The core ideas of this student project project are being developed by BCC along with local residents and the landscape architect Sally Visek of Designs Matter. The key issue discussed by local residents was whether the changes to the space are about its form or its function. Whilst people were in favour of brightening up the area they were also enthusiastic to see how the space can be used in a positive way given that the gates will remain there for the foreseeable future.
The meeting was informative in highlighting the complexities of interface locations and also allowed Stalker to met with interested parties from the Nothumberland St area who will meet and participate in tomorrows public walk retracing the route of the no 77 bus. The Northumberland St area is on the route of the walk.
Stalker Lecture at PLACE
Stalker gave a fascinating lunchtime lecture today at PLACE. They told the story of their 15 years of practice through photographs and anecdotes of various projects undertaken in their home city of Rome, finishing with a video of one of their walks.
Lorenzo explained how they don't just walk, but 'walk across' the city, through unexpected, inaccessible, abandoned places. They create an interactive online map of their walk, that evolves as individuals add things to it, to contain the personal and forgotten memories of the city. These are not maps as a global representation of the city, but rather maps of their experiences...maps which, like the walks themselves, connect spaces that would not otherwise be connected - luxury, gated communities, for example, to the grittier areas around them, or abandoned buildings to their inhabited neighbourhoods - into a common vision of space, 'making a new infrastructure that connects the inhabitants of a city together.'
The projects are about social engagement - more focused on the process than the destination. As Lorenzo told us, Stalker try to make people break their habits; 'we try to make things happen that could never normally take place.' Such as the Roma community preparing a feast for the locals. Or planting olive trees in thousands of roundabouts across Rome and inviting local communities to come and make oil together. Or walking the 80km highway around Rome...just because.
How interesting it will be to see what Stalker make of Belfast on the walk tomorrow, and what Belfast makes of them! Come and join in if you can!
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Stalker on Walkabout Tues 10th Aug
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| Northumberland Street |
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| Garfield Street |
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| Brrokvale Avenue |
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| City centre alley |
Photos by Arianna Vicari.
Stalker in Belfast
Flaxart, PLACE and British Council are pleased to be hosting 3 members of the Stalker collective in Belfast, Giulia Fiocca, Lorenzo Romito and Aldo Innocenzi.
During the productive meeting in PLACE Stalker also met with Sabine Kalke from Belfast City Council for an update on the City Council's work with various interested parties in the Northumberland St area through PEACE III funds. After this meeting they met with Eva Grossman of Unite Against Hate who gave them an insight into the Polish Community, other ethnic minorities in the city and her role in Polish Cultural Week. Stalker are now embarking on a series of walks in the city so that they can see first hand some of the dynamics of the city that have been discussed.
During the productive meeting in PLACE Stalker also met with Sabine Kalke from Belfast City Council for an update on the City Council's work with various interested parties in the Northumberland St area through PEACE III funds. After this meeting they met with Eva Grossman of Unite Against Hate who gave them an insight into the Polish Community, other ethnic minorities in the city and her role in Polish Cultural Week. Stalker are now embarking on a series of walks in the city so that they can see first hand some of the dynamics of the city that have been discussed.
Briefing Brainstorm
Stalker, PLACE, Flaxart Studios and Forum for Alternative Belfast, sat down today at PLACE for a stimulating, informative brainstorming session. PLACE and Flaxart used maps, anecdotes and images to paint for the Italians a picture of Belfast today: an under-populated city centre, what FAB call a ‘grey doughnut’ of motorways around it, and a sprawling city beyond, split into ‘pizza slices’ and accessed by arterial routes, with no radial public transport routes connecting the disparate slices.
The 77 bus route, which ran from Waterworks, via the Falls and the Shankill to the Gasworks, was once the city’s only radial bus route, but it no longer runs. It was decided that this route should form the basis of an exploratory walk, led by Stalker, during which the intention is to interact with locals and passersby along the way to learn about memories of the 77 bus, and anything else that comes up over the course of the walk.
We will be meeting on Thursday 12 August at 1.30 at the Fire Station on the Cavehill Road to walk the 77 route, terminating at the Gasworks on the Ormeau Road. It should be approximately a 9km walk, and you can join in for some or all, as and when you please. All are welcome, the more the merrier!
Friday 6 August 2010
Introduction
ON/Edge: Stalker pilot project Belfast 2010
Northumberland St
Northumberland St
Above: Northumberland St viewed from the Falls Rd
About the visit
Flaxart Studio, PLACE and the British Council are pleased to host the Rome-based urban research group Stalker in Belfast for a week long research visit. The group Stalker is comprised of architects and other interested parties who along with residents explore urban locations using a range of investigative processes in order to better understand and utilise these environments.
About Stalker
Stalker was founded in Rome in 1995. Stalker defines itself as an "urban art laboratory", which has set up the Nomadic Observatory composed of artists and architects. Stalker works on derelict buildings, on the fringes of cities and on to-become "future" neighbourhoods. They have realised several "transurban" actions while surveying Rome, Milan, Istanbul, and Berlin. They have a perception of space which involves the body (walk, clearing or by-passing obstacles) as much as the spirit (the memory of the passed sites, the perception of their use).
Above: Northumberland St viewed from the Shankill Rd
About the project
Stalker have been invited to Belfast for a week to research the Northumberland Street area of the city. They will be meeting with Flaxart, PLACE, Forum for Alternative Belfast and a range of individuals and agencies from the Northumberland St area whilst in the city.
As part of their visit the will be doing 2 public talks - see the bottom of the page for more info. All welcome.
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