LAWRENCE OLIVER RICHARDS | ANTISOCIAL
THE ANTISOCIAL: CANNON STREET
Images from my initial presentation based on my understanding of the Antisocial element in the area
RESEARCH My initials thoughts about the area mainly focused on the influence and serious impedance of construction that effectively blocks of certain whole areas. This asks certain questions of the users of the ares should people be stereotyped and asked to be expected to have to deal with consequence? “I think the dominance of construction material affects ones time in the space.You can’t help but notice the presence of bright red construction material.” Insidious nature of contractors leads to a aggressive statement. Could be seen as a forceful statement toward the people in the are, like they are forcibly taking the land from others? Cannon street is a financial area, but it is not as well known or illustrious as the other area’s such as St. Paul’s or Liverpool Street. However it does have important aspects to it such as the London Stone which is the centre of Roman rule in London during their reign. It is obsolete yet historically Vital, but impossible to see anymore, which I think is ironic considering it’s power and the notion of power control in the immediate area (power gained through financial acumen). The use of the stone in Roman times to garner power could be used as a contemporary metaphor to the control of public matters through police style state measures and security devices.
INITIAL RANT I want to bring to your attention the overwhelming presence of construction material and over presence in the cannon street area. Although this work may seem commonplace and necessary, it has become debilitating to the pedestrian. I’ve mapped the locations of these hotspots on this graphic, showing the dominance of their location, affected users of the stations from every angle. We see there is abundant presence of constructions signs add to feeling of being personally unwelcome. By reading “we apologise for any inconvenience caused during the progress of these works” as “please be aware of inconvenience caused” therefore promoting a sense of trespassing, as if the owners Laing O’Rouke are making sure you are aware and that you feel the need to be apologised to. Making you involved in the social situation and obliged to back down from any position you may have held. Cones in courtyard; so many cones are being planted to assimilate and quietly become part of the collective conscience, making you associate the area with either construction or danger or avoidance, rendering the area unwelcoming, dangerous or unappealing. Resulting in an area that is largely unoccupied. The contractors feel the need to fill the space with ‘placeholder’ material, so that the public cannot use it. They occupy spaces with material and rubble that symbolise an ownership in the space which subsequently intervenes with pedestrian traffic, causing disruption to someones route, a change in walking speed
and generally complicating someones journey. There is dumped construction material, boards, barriers, road cones, bollards all of these imply a sense of complacency and a general lack of regard for public image. The builders seen to encroach into public areas, narrowing pathways for pedestrians. On this map I have marked where construction sites have affected pedestrianised areas. Yet there is no alternate measure offered for the public neither a retaliation for users, they merely must put up with the new minimalised landscape. I think that this build up of intervening work is a cause for concern and it is likely the reason public users are discouraged to use the area outside formal hours and an introduction of shorter public opening times and a lack of interest outside of office times, leading to a empty feeling of non-community. In the news there is only talk of renovation and upgrading in this area, including the current redevelopment of cannon place. I would argue that before more large scale work is undertaken there is a need for a more local improvement before countless further development occurs. 2
LAWRENCE OLIVER RICHARDS | ANTISOCIAL