Byker: trust and future

Byker: trust and future

Byker: trust and future Charrettes 2011 apl Newcastle University

Charrettes 2011 apl Newcastle University

Byker: trust and future Charrettes 2011 apl Newcastle University

Acknowledgements Without them knowing Manuel Tardits and John

residents and associations affiliated with

Pendlebury are instigators of this year’s charrette

Byker was outstanding; the enthusiasm

edition in Byker. Indeed, when Manuel Tardits replied

they communicated when talking to us and

to our invitation for the one-week intensive workshop

guiding us was reflected in the projects the

in Gateshead last year there was one condition to

Newcastle University students developed.

fulfil: a visit to Byker. John Pendlebury’s longstanding

It is a privilege that Byker is so close to us

research interest and relationship with Byker and

– there is so much that we can learn from it,

associations organised this visit, suspecting that

and we hope the community of Byker can

Manuel Tardits had only accepted to come all the way

also benefit from the students’ reflection –

from Tokyo to Newcastle to have the opportunity to

this has always been the priority for John

visit, again and again through the course of a week,

Pendlebury: people from Byker give their

the Ralph Erskine’s social icon: Byker Wall and its

time to us, and consequently we want to

neighbourhood.

give something back to them.

This charrette edition was an opportunity to continue

Charrette projects connect students

the relationship between Byker and the School of

in different ways across the years and

Architecture Planning and Landscape and to engage

programmes; for the first time this year,

with Byker at the very particular moment when the

MAUD students participated which

people of Byker were given the opportunity to have

demonstrates how the charrette has

their say in the future of their Estate through the

gathered momentum in the school.

newly formed BykerTrust (http://www.backingbyker.

Students are mutually exposed to different

org/). The response to our speculative projects from

drawing and communication abilities and new

Andy McDermott, local resident (Erskine

techniques of engaging with projects. There is so

Society) and David Dobereiner, architect

much to learn from each other in witnessing other

and local resident as well as Carole Yeoh

approaches. The students continue to express their

(Community Development Office), Lewis

appreciation for the freshness that comes from the

Greener (Backing Byker Officer) and

involvement of outside practitioners: they widen the

Michelle Bell & Gordon Humble (Your

students’ horizons and expose them to new forms of

Homes Newcastle).

practice as they share their experiences of working internationally. This is also an opportunity for students

Special thanks to Joanna Hinchcliffe

to engage with the internal staff research agenda.

for loyalty to the school, reliability and particular skill in articulating our words,

Our warm thanks go to the following people in Byker

putting together this book one more year.

who responded so positively to our interest, guided us with enthusiasm and provided us with a multifaceted introduction to the neighbourhood: Colin Dilks local resident who generously gave his time to guide Manuel Tardits in October 2010 and instilled this charrette (Erskine Society), Ken Millor and Fiona Ford local residents (Byker Village Tenants & Residents Association), Roberta, Vicky, Shelley and Claire, local residents (Byker YMCA workers),

Armelle Tardiveau + Daniel Mallo

Who’s Who

Adam Sharr is Professor of Architecture

David Franco is an architect and founding member of

at Newcastle University; Principal of Adam

Misc arquitectos (www.misc.es). He has worked

Sharr Architects; Editor of arq: Architectural

on projects in Norway, England, Poland and Spain,

Research Quarterly (Cambridge University

which have been published internationally and

Press’ architecture journal, co-edited with

displayed in international exhibitions such as the Venice

Richard Weston) and; Series Editor of Thinkers

Biennale 2005.

for Architects, published by Routledge. See his

He is currently a member of the Europan-Europe

website www.adamsharr.com

Technical Committee and also of the Europan-Spain Scientific Committee. He teaches architectural design at

Manuel Tardits was born in France, raised in

the EPS Ceu Madrid University since 2006,

Cameroon, reborn in Japan. Blood type: A (like

where is now the Director of the Thesis Program.

Architecture), hobbies: A (like Architecture); dreams: A (like Architecture); sports: A (like

Martyn Dade-Robertson is Lecturer in Architecture and

Architecture) and B (like Boxing).

Communication in the School of Architecture Planning

Mikan (www.mikan.co.jp) is a French-Japanese

and Landscape. Martyn originally did a degree in

office of architecture based in Yokohama Japan.

Architecture at Newcastle University before embarking

Mikan tries to go beyond disciplines. Its works

on an MPhil and PhD at Cambridge University (Darwin

go from large facilities in Japan and China to

College) with a theses Entitled ‘Information Architecture

schools, houses, smaller scale interior

in Screen Based Semantic Spaces’. This PhD research

architecture, furniture and books. Mikan

led to a number of successful cross disciplinary projects

also participate in various workshops and

and collaborations and internship at Microsoft Research.

making of installations.

Contents Documenting Byker_A self led Charrette Recording the Charrette

pp.01 - 05

Byker Stripes_Adam Sharr

pp.66 - 87

Through studying Byker, students are asked to identify a problem or problems

Byker Hackers_Manuel Tardits

pp.06 - 37

Students are to “hack” or penetrate the area

which stripyness can help to solve, and to propose stripy solutions.

of Byker in order to understand and record a list of issues. Then, using a clear set of tools, they are to propose customised solutions for

The Political Sensorium_

all the issues that have been listed.

Martyn Dade-Robertson

pp.88 - 100

Byker’s new future opens up to the The Game of Byker_ David Franco + Daniel Mallo

potential for the design of a new type of pp.38 - 65

political space which is both a physical

Reality is the most exciting material for

and a virtual. Using the foundation of

imagination. Students are to reflect on specific

the new Byker Trust as a starting point

themes: programme, built environment,

students will first investigate the current

socioeconomic issues and public space

state of ‘situated’

before presenting at least four feasible strategies, all different in scale, cost and

political discourse in Byker mapping the existing political

ambition, for the improvement of the Byker

senses and, ultimately designing for a

Estate.

new political nervous system.

Â

DOCUMENTING Â BYKER Â CHARRETTE Â WEEK: Â A Â SELF Â LED Â CHARRETTE Â

01

Andrew  Morrison  and  John  Beattie    Objectives -­  Document  the  work  of  the  4  charrette  groups -­  Record  the  discovery  and  the  process -­  Record  life  in  Byker -­  Provide  a  documenter’s  perspective  of  the     charrette  week .HHS DQ RQOLQH EORJ DQG FUHDWH D ¿QDO ¿OP  WKDW XQL¿HV RXU ¿QGLQJV IURP WKH ZHHN  Byker  Blog KWWS FKDUUHWWH EORJVSRW FRP Final  Film ‘The  Week  That  Was’ KWWS \RXWX EH )&6 ,)711O8 Supplementary  Film ‘Back  to  Studio’ KWWS \RXWX EH Y3 $NP /(Z

Diary - Day 1

Day 2

The tours

Its on the wall!

We went on guided tours of the Byker estate with local residents. Every guide had their own unique view of the place they called home.

- Recorded Andy and Herbie’s tours.

- Collected photographs and footage.

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-Filmed and photographed in the studio, the Byker Hackers, Game of Byker and Byker Stripes groups in discussion and working on their respective projects.

- Posted rough tour videos on to you tube and updated the blog for the people to see.

02

The Tours

The S tudio

Day 3

Day 4

We set out to conduct interviews with students, documenting attitudes and plans for the project.

Asking three questions: 1. From your initial groupwork what is the one main issue you would like to address in Byker?

2. Where abouts in Byker do you wish to make a change? :KR GR \RX WKLQN ZLOO EHQHßW IURP WKLV FKDQJH" 03

“ They’ve lost the connection ” with their old industrial past

n beonnectio blish a c of the ta th es u eo s “R orth and n e th n twee site ”

“ Provide a better econom y for the wider and local com munity

”

Day 5 We arranged follow up interviews with residents David, Fiona and Herbie and went to meet them in their own homes in order to better capture their opinions on Byker and our Charrette projects.

- Questions we asked them...

1. What does living in Byker mean to you?

2. What one thing would you change about Byker?

2. Do you think the students of the Charrettes project can really understand what living in Byker is all about?

Herbie

Fiona

04

David

05

“ Lis te genera ning to n ot on tion l but genera the y y my tion, ounge (stud s u r rel en under ts) can ta y they st ke it in, and and f and how eel liv people in area. live So w g in a su e have c pullin a cha h an g thin nce o gs ar becau f ou se we ’ve ha nd a bit, years d tha of ne t man glect. y ” Herbie

Preface Hacking may seem at first not the most pleasant thing to do in order to respect people’s privacy. Though sometimes hackers later get hired by the people they were once scrutinizing. The reason being a good understanding of the system and a capability to protect it from future intrusions.

In the case of the Byker Estate, seemingly marvellous for any planners or architects, real hacking would be an unpleasant task. Our aims and capacities were surely less technical but more driven by social care.

To discover the underlying reasons why such good intentions, careful design, tremendous efforts made by a group of designers, inhabitants and members of various institutions, that may eventually not survive its original intention, were our outcomes.

07

What eventually a devoted hacker does is try to propose to solve the problems. Byker, taken as an alive heritage that needs creative and even sometimes ambitious repairs and customizing, its creators and inhabitants certainly deserve it.

Manuel Tardits

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ACCESS GRANTED

c

Newcastle University APL

08

Introduction A site of real architectural and social value, the Byker Estate has proved a rich and challenging environment in which to study built form and social interaction.

The week began with a site visit, where residents generously took us on a number of tours around the estate. They highlighted problems and opportunities that were apparent to them, and provided us with a wealth of unique insights. Following this, we put pen to paper and attempted to represent these problems in a graphical form as a basis for discussion. A number of categories were agreed upon in which to place the identified problems.

Having identified the issues, we then explored a number of solutions that also were categorised. After much discussion, more solutions became apparent and we then set about finding the most effective method of graphical representation.

A part of Byker was chosen in which to specifically locate these solutions.

While some problems would require only a small scale intervention, others would require enormous effort, and a few were purely theoretical. Some of the solutions could be achieved by the residents themselves, while the more ambitious solutions would require long term investment from the residents, the Byker Community Trust and external organisations.

The following is intended as a guide for the Byker resident, the wider community or any keen follower of Ralph Erskine. It is a collective analysis of the Byker Wall and its potential.

Finally, we would like to thank Manuel Tardits of MIKAN for his efforts and enthusiasm this week in helping us to form and present this work.

The Byker Hackers

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The Byker wall estate: wider context map [river Tyne to the south east]

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11 The section of the Byker wall estate we have chosen to hack and customise

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The Wall

Carville Kendall

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Avondale Gordon

Bolam / Janet Croft

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investiga-‐ tive photos

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LOADING. PLEASE WAIT.

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category icons

01

threshold icons

02

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responsibility icons

03

pin

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04 volume control location map

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05 taskbar

text

06 problem / solution

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battery

10 time and date

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11

Icons

Instruction Manu[e]l Instruction Manu[e]l is a User Guide to Byker Hackers. In order to navigate through the document with ease, we have developed a clear manual describing how to decipher the information presented, such as the icons within the document or the taskbar.

Adaptability

Natural Environment 02 threshold icons Community

Hacking Byker Management

W arning!

The by

document ‘hacking’

begins Byker.

Identifying problems through the Byker estate and bringing them together in a simple and concise way.

Customising Byker WCarning a ution!

Taking the problems we have identified and coming up with inventive useful ideas for solutions to these problems.

01 category icons These icons represent the categories that have been chosen to describe the type of problem or solution that is being shown.

This set of icons represents the type of threshold being described. Such as what is considered public domain or private domain or somewhere inbetween.

03 responsibility icons

Physical Environment

07 problem The problems we have identified during the charrette are displayed in this window.

07 solution The solutions to the problems that we have identified are also displayed in this window depending on the page you are looking at.

08 taskbar The taskbar along the bottom of the page is used to navigate through the project.

These icons represent where the problem or solution has occurred.

16

Private 04 pin

Semi-‐Private

Semi-‐Public

The pin has been placed to show the exact location of the issue within the location map. Each problem or solution has been numbered and this number is displayed within the pin.

Public

Resident

05 location map

10 battery

This map describes the location of the problem or solution that is shown in the window to the right.

The battery indicates the progression throughout the project and the document .

06 text

Chronologically describes how the project and document progresses.

11 time and date

Community

Professional

09 volume control The volume control indicates how much a problem may have been voiced by residents. And therefore shows how much of a priority this issue is and its need to be solved..

The text problem or

box describes the solution in question.

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#016 Divided Territories “There are tensions between residents of different areas within Byker.�

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#016 Sitting on the Fence “Residents that had bought their houses prior to the listing often added higher fences, creating a feeling of disconnection from the community.�

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#016 Where Do I Park ? “There are not enough personal car parking spaces.�

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#016 Too Close for Comfort “There is conflict between vehicles and pedestrians on narrow roads.�

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#016 Its Closing Time “There are too many vacant or derelict community rooms�

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#001 Welcoming Gateway “Come on in! “Remodel entrances through Byker Wall by means of sculpture and interventions.”

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001

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#003 Live -‐ Work “Providing some residents with both working and living accommodation within their dwelling.”

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003

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#025 Climbing the Wall “Build a climbing wall up Byker Wall to provide an activity for young people.�

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025

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#026 Walking Bus “Make school children from outside the estate walk in together under supervision instead of being driven individually to the gate.�

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#050 Picture This ! “To give residents an interesting view, project an interactive and variable image using a camera.�

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050

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#060 Bike’s R us “Use empty shops as secure bike storage, to create a more active street front.”

060

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#064 [Byker]book “Create a Byker blog and website to promote community interaction and awareness of events.

Provide internet cafes for those without internet access.�

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064

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#065 I Love Byker “Promote Byker as a great place to live both inside and outside the community.�

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#066 Stairway to Heaven “Use glass as the walls for communal stairwells to discourage misuse�

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066

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#068 Cabbage Patch Kids “Convert under utilised spaces to community or individual allotments.�

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INSTALLING UPDATES 55 0F 70...

DO NOT TURN OFF OR UNPLUG YOUR COMPUTER: IT WILL TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY...

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Story of a Charrette: Hacking and Customising Byker Somehow it was a shock to me to realise that, 30 years after being achieved, the Byker estate would not fulfill all the dreams its team of planners, architects, social workers and former inhabitants had in their minds and hands. I had dreamt myself, so many times, of this place as an absolute success. Here also bureaucratic routine, social evolution of its inhabitants, aging, probable lack of budget and maintenance, resulted in violence and decay -� some of the visible pathologies that crippled even the best estates of low income housing of the past. Through visiting Byker I was by no means able to understand all the aspects of the present social situation and conflicts, and it was still a strikingly beautiful place or a careful variety of beautiful places. Not only beautiful in terms of design -� something that any architect would feel here I guess/hope -� but also because it was still possible to grasp the social intentions and care behind the built environment despite alterations and dereliction.

However immodest or immature a one week charrette could be, focusing on Byker remained a wonderful experience of understanding ideas, creating expectations and there were achievements and failures too. That was, I believe, our common and deep belief.

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Similar to Gateshead last year, the one week project meant implementing the relevant tools and methods to allow students, despite the shortage of time, to provide an articulate analysis of the various problems encountered by Byker and sketch a set of solutions.

Students, probably aware of what was done the year before, needed very little input from my side, I must acknowledge. Once the Hacking and Customising methodology was explained and understood, they took their fate in their hands for the whole week.

Reviews of the work were fast, light, diligent and sometimes hilarious. It was both a pleasant and strange feeling to see how organised and devoted the group was. It was quickly understood and agreed that one of the main concerns was to link together the different phases of researching, analysing, proposing and presenting. Trivial jokes, refined items, delicate or even stronger points of view, definite answers and light questions were all put into a set of words, icons and drawings that freely discussed the future of Byker. Eventually the week was over and everybody felt energetic. The Byker effect I guess.

Manuel Tardits

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B Y K E R

1 1

M A G N E T S

T The old pub on Raby Street will be refurbished and restructured to enhance its connection with the street and new market square. It is hoped that it will become a focus for gathering as it will host a new community cinema.

M 40

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

41

Precise Projects | The Game Of Byker

H A new main entrance for Byker can act as a magnet as well, therefore we should consider a special function for the entrance. A café as an entrance plays an important role in inviting people to Byker. The main idea is that in adding something really special to the main entrance people will love to come and visit it.

L

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

42

E The Centre would work as another community hub, a place for people to gather from outside and inside of Byker. The Centre gives training to unskilled local people by expert mentor.

M 43

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

H The health centre is used as a magnet to attract the community from inside and outside of the Byker wall.

It looks after the well-­being of the community. It is a medium scale project requiring outside investment [NHS].

M 44

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

E The Erskine centre is imagined as a permanent facility for the promotion of the estate as an architectural heritage site. Its location is intended as an extension of the Newcastle and Gateshead quayside, providing a cultural exchange.

L 45

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

M A vibrant main street in the estate will be created for everyone. This will be done by large scale investment from outside sources, introducing a mix of temporary and permanent commercial opportunities. A new square will act as a catalyst for regeneration and provide a setting for social interaction.

46

L INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

I

47

N F R A S T R U C T U R E

T Several new materials would be introduced in order to EHWWHU RUJDQLVH WUDI¿F DQG SDUNLQJ ZLWKLQ WKH HVWDWH 7KH streets leading from the main road to the parking areas would be shared streets where people and cars drive on the same surface. Whilst there will also be a fully pedestrianised main street.

M 48

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

P Existing public transport infrastructure provided by Newcastle Council will be extended into the Byker community. The south side of the estate will be re-­ connected with the Quayside. Four scratch bike stations will be located evenly throughout the estate.

S

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

P All parking areas found on the estate, with the exception for the large parking areas north of the wall, will be limited access. Parking areas would have parking spaces GH¿QHG E\ D GLIIHUHQW PDWHULDO WKDQ WKH VKDUHG VWUHHW DQG HDFK ZRXOG EH QXPEHUHG LQ RUGHU XVH VSDFH HI¿FLHQWO\ and allocate spaces in a fair manner.

M

L

P

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

50

51

Precise Projects | The Game Of Byker

S P O R T S

52

U As an internal magnet, the running track shall link a series of multi-­purpose assault courses designed to function as both an outdoor gym and play area for children. The three lane running track would provide dedicated running, cycling and dog walking lanes and be implemented with the redesign of the existing public VSDFHV ,W LV D ODUJH VFDOH SURMHFW UHTXLULQJ VLJQL¿FDQW external investment.

53

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

E The climbing wall and zip wire is used as a magnet to attract the community from inside and outside of the %\NHU ZDOO 5HTXLULQJ PLQLPDO ¿QDQFLDO LQYHVWPHQW DQG installed quickly the climbing wall and zip wire would link the Byker Wall to the Metro Station and new market area.

S 54

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

55

Precise Projects | The Game Of Byker

A L

L O T M E N T S

56

E Edible Schools is a long term educational planting program about healthy lifestyles with the youths in local schools. Biodegradable school waste is recycled for compost.

57

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

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S 58

INVESTMENT MONEY TIME MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT

S

Scenario one represents a selection of one hundred volunteers each giving ten hours per week for one year, with a budget of £250,000.

60

Simple Scenarios | The Game Of Byker

S

61

Scenario two represents a medium term three year investment strategy with yearly reviews with an overall budget of £2,000,000.

62

Simple Scenarios | The Game Of Byker

S

63

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64

Simple Scenarios | The Game Of Byker

Only  a  couple  of  hours  after  I  had  arrived  in  Newcastle  last  September  I  entered  the  %\NHU (VWDWH , UHDOLVHG LPPHGLDWHO\ ZKDW DQ LQFUHGLEO\ GLI¿FXOW WDVN LW ZDV JRLQJ WR be  to  produce  anything  relevant  to  improving  the  original  project  by  merely  using  architectural  disciplinary  tools,  and  how  it  was  going  to  be  even  more  complicated  if  the  transformation  was  to  involve  the  whole  estate,  not  just  a  fragment.  And  that´s  exactly  what  my  proposal  for  the  Charrettes  was  about!

As  often  is  the  case  when  I’m  teaching,  I  didn’t  really  know  what  the  result  of  the  Charrette  was  going  to  look  like.  You  just  throw  a  question  to  the  students  in  front  of  you  and  hope  they  grab  it  and  do  something  about  it.  The  questions  must  be  exciting  and  complex,  and  there  has  to  be  a  clear  frame  either  methodological  or  theoretical.  The  rules  of  the  game  were  our  frame  in  this  case,  and  it  took  them  about  two  days  to  grab  it.   Until  then,  we  discussed  a  lot  and  tried  to  create  a  new  perspective  on  Byker´s  real  problems,  producing  a  lot  of  interesting  analysis  although  no  real  answer.  But  there  was  a  moment  when  things  I  didn’t  expect  started  to  happen,  unexpected  questions  were  asked,  and  suddenly  between  the  third  and  the  fourth  day,  the  game  was  already  theirs.

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$ JDPH E\ GH¿QLWLRQ KDV DOPRVW LQ¿QLWH SRVVLELOLWLHV 7KH OLPLWDWLRQ RI WKH UXOHV FUHDWHV a  frame  for  huge  variability,  so  the  unexpected  is  somehow  controlled  or  captured  by  this  frame.  The  rules  we  created  for  the  game  of  Byker  had  to  do  with  thematic  work  organisation  and  with  basic  phasing;͞  a  really  typical  approach  for  practising  architecture.  %XW ZKHQ ZH DSSOLHG LW WR RXU H[FLWLQJ GLI¿FXOW TXHVWLRQ IRU %\NHU ZH ZHUH DEOH WR SURGXFH D FROOHFWLRQ RI OLWWOH VKDUS SURMHFWV WKDW UHDFWHG WR VSHFL¿F SUREOHPV SODFHV or  elements  of  scale,  size  and  importance  within  Byker  -­  from  the  general  circulation  system  of  the  estate  to  the  management  of  the  new  cafeteria.  These  projects  were  the  pieces  of  the  game  of  Byker  so,  once  they  had  already  been  created  (by  Sunday  night  if  , UHPHPEHU FRUUHFWO\ ZH FRXOG ¿QDOO\ SOD\ 2I FRXUVH WKLV JDPH DV DQ\ VLPXODWLRQ KDG an  underlying  agenda.  The  students  had  created  a  new  tool  for  thinking  about  Byker  in  an  active  and  complex  way,  a  tool  full  of  information,  intelligence,  and  architectural  creativity.   If  I  have  any  regrets  from  the  week  it  is  that,  after  all  the  fun  I  had  (and  I  have  to  thank  Manuel,  Armelle  and  Daniel  for  that),  we  could  only  play  the  game  of  Byker  for  a  few  hours  that  Sunday!                   David  Franco

B Y K E R

Byker Stripes

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Byker Stripes | Micro Enterprise Inside the Wall :H IRXQG WKH %\NHU HVWDWH ODE\ULQWKLQH DQG GLI¿FXOW WR QDYLJDWH :DOOHG RII IURP WKH UHVW RI %\NHU WKH DUHD DOVR IHOW OLNH DQ HQFODYH despite being the size of a village or small town in its own right. The lack of any facilities other than residential housing is a major factor in this, and deprives visitors of way points to help them navigate -­ the streets all look alike. We propose a scheme to support micro enterprise within the estate. Startups can locate in the spaces originally intended as hobby rooms but are now largely vacant, and will be linked by a designed series of super graphics to guide visitors point to point rather than using the confusing street system.

For example a business may be “the fourth node on the back stripe”, and its location understood rather like a station on a rail line.

Window Cleaner

Tool Hire

Seamstress

Cake Shop

Bed & Breakfast

Hairdresser

Car Repair

Cinema

Micro Brewery

Creche

Cycle Repair

Gardener

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Proposed routes through the Byker Estate.

Some potential micro enterprises and the designed graphics to accompany them.

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Survey of social spaces (orange), commercial premises (purple), derelict properties (black) and largely defunct hobby rooms (blue).

Proposed route around recommissioned hobby rooms with uses indicated.

Bicycle Repair Broke Bike Mountain

Gardener Mown Down

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One proposed stripe through Byker with the uses and graphics for individual hobby rooms.

Byker wall estate was described by a local postman as a “rabbit warren”, highlighting it’s labyrinthine layout. We considered the non-­resident outsider entering the site at night, likely to be uncomfort-­ able navigating around the estate.

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A metro network of light routes would traverse simple routes over Byker wall estate, serving as navigation tools.

The ‘stay-­tions’ of the light routes would host physical activities would encourage people to stay on site. Power for the lighting would be produced through the physical activities. A more navigatable, fun and healthy Byker would be resultant.

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::  identifying  problems Â

Byker  wall

inspiration  taken  from  site

macroscale

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microscale

access

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nodes existing  microscale  elements

extending  material  up  the  wall

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connecting  points over  the  motorway

main  connection

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combination extending  material  from  wall

additional  pathways

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:: Â ideas

Animal  recreation initial  plan

Water  Strip

improving  connectivity

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Allotment  strip

stripes

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Activities  strip

Hard  Landscaping

axo  study  with  stripey  intervention

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::  the  proposal

81 Plan  Indicating  the  linear  barriers  and  key  buildings

Examples  of  the  proposal  in  effect

Seating

Flora  and  Fauna

The  detail

::  the  detail

Domestic  carpet  leading  to  the  metro  and  bus  station

Pet  shop  corner

82 Grass  stripe  overlapping  the  hard  landscaping

Allotments  folding  over  the  Bingo  Hall

Activities  crossing  over Â

the  main  road

Allotments  leading  to  the  supermarket

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For starters, the shadows, textures and nostalgia intrigued us most about the site

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‘Dear John’ Photographs Sirkka-­Liisa Konttinen Photos Byker today

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Mapping the Intangible-­ Contours Ground Surfaces Nostalgia felt on the site Shadows from infrastructure Shadows around the site

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The proposals, using the ever changing shadows to guide you through the site, using nostalgic photographs from the past to compare with the present day condition of the same site.

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For  one  group,  a  stripe  became  a  super-­graphic  painted  on  the  side  of  the  estateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  abandoned  hobby  rooms,  highlighting  their  location  on  the  estate  and  advertising  various  social  micro-­enterprises  which  could  be  located  within.  For  a  second,  stripes  were  imagined  as  strings  of  coloured  lanterns  hung  from  looping  cords  that  could  replace  the  estateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  existing  street  lighting.  The  colour-­coding  of  the  lanterns  would  assist  navigation.  And  public  J\PV Âą XQGHUFRYHU H[HUFLVH ELNHV DQG GDQFHĂ&#x20AC;RRUV Âą ZRXOG EH XVHG WR KHOS SRZHU WKH OLJKWV and  promote  public  health,  the  lights  glowing  brighter  as  people  pedal  and  dance  faster.  A  third  group  imagined  patterns  of  lines  painted  on  buildings  as  ways  to  re-­animate  neglected  public  spaces  and  create  delight.  Stripes  would  appear  disconnected  until  someone  stands  DW WKH PDJLF SRLQW ZKHUH WKH\ PHUJH LQWR D SDWWHUQ D ODGGHU FOLPELQJ WR D FKXUFK WRZHU RU D series  of  concentric  circles  completed  by  a  bus  when  it  arrives  at  the  stop.  These  patterns  could  bring  a  smile  to  those  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;in  the  knowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  who  pass  by  every  day  and  they  would  intrigue  YLVLWRUV $ IRXUWK JURXS XVHG VWULSV RI ODQGVFDSH Âą LQFOXGLQJ D OLQHDU Ă&#x20AC;RZHU PHDGRZ DQ allotment  and  a  playground  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  to  reconnect  the  Byker  estate  by  bridging  the  road  and  metro  OLQH WKDW VHSDUDWH LW IURP 6KLHOGV 5RDG $ ÂżIWK JURXS ZDV LQWHUHVWHG LQ PRUH LQWDQJLEOH shadow-­play,  making  devices  which  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  when  caught  by  the  sun  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  would  cast  shadows  telling  the  story  of  Bykerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  history,  read  on-­site  in  relation  to  Sirkka-­Lissa  Kontinnenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  famous  V SKRWRJUDSKV Stripes,  here,  were  not  the  answers  to  questions  about  the  estate  but  instead  they  offered  tools  for  investigation  and  ways  of  thinking.  The  projects  proposed  could  be  implemented  individually  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  especially  those  which  could  be  painted  easily  using  line  marking  equipment  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  or  they  could  be  imagined  together  as  a  single  coherent  proposal  for  enriching  the  Byker  estate.                   Adam  Sharr

7KH 3ROLWLFDO 6HQVRULXP 5HÀHFWLRQV The model of democracy espoused by most western countries is adapted, more or less on the model of popular government invented in Athens c.500BC. The Athenian model imagines a network of power and communication enacted through the body politic where representatives in power have direct relationships to the people they serve and where the political system is performed both on the streets of the city and in designated chambers for debate, speech making and decision making. The Athenian model has, however, gone through distinct changes as it is scaled up for heavily populated and spatially dispersed territories.

Digital technologies have attempted to repair the body politic by democratising publication and allowing for the free expression of personal and collective views through various web based media forms including blogs, tweets, and online petitions. Digital technologies have also given unprecedented access to information on governments and elected representatives with sites like for example “theyworkforyou.com” in the UK detailing the voting record, speeches and expenses of members of parliament in an accessible forms. Such technologies are, however, both divisive and exclusive. Participation in digital democracy requires access to computer equipment, the internet and expertise on how to use these technologies effectively.

Web based technologies are also placeless -­ designed WR EH ³DQ\WLPH DQG DQ\ZKHUH´ DQG GR QRW UHÀHFW WKH ORFDO condition of much political discourse and the importance of physical meeting places and situations.

To this end we used the Political Sensorium Charette as a way of enquiring into the development of ‘situated’ technologies to enable political action to take place at a local level. We were joined for the week by Dr. Nick Taylor from Newcastle University’s School of Computing and the students were asked to consider Byker and, the motivations behind the newly formed Byker Trust, to speculate about the role that situated technologies may have in the context of an emerging local democratic process.

The students, who were split into four groups came up with various proposals from the utopian -­ an idea of using augmented reality to connect people to past and future landscapes of their environment to the dystopian world where ‘every action becomes a vote’ through a sensing sentient urban fabric. While the projects didn’t conclude a new role for architectural and spatial design in a new electronically enabled political system they did point to a uniquely architectural critical dimension of approach.

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Celebrity,  Talk,  and  Play Âł,Q WKH FRQWH[W RI FLWL]HQVKLS WKH ÂżUVW LVVXH LV not  what  entertaining  politics  does  to  citizens,  but  what  citizens  do  with  entertaining  politics,  for  citizenship  is  not  something  that  pertains  if  it  is  not  expressed  in  everyday  talk  and  actions,  both  in  the  public  and  private  domain.  Citizenship...something  that  one  has  to  do,  something  that  requires  performance.â&#x20AC;?

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CURRENT SITUATION A general apathy towards politics, where extensive consultation has lead to little physical resolution;; or where perfunctory consultation has eluded some residents.

(LIMITED) PERSONAL POLITICS EXPERIENCES WITH

A dissatisfaction with the “unsympathetic” environmental management (planning) system.

We propose a fair solution whereby problems and solutions are publicised and are never left unresolved;; using local environmental issues as examples.

CURRENT  SITUATION -­  Visibility 7KH Ă&#x20AC;RZ RI LQIRUPDWLRQ LV FRQYROXWHG DQG KLHUDUFKLFDO LQVWHDG RI GRFXPHQWV EHLQJ EXULHG LQ &RXQFLO ÂżOLQJ cabinets,  it  should  be  available  in  a  relevant  location.

-­  Clarity The  current  system  confuses  responsibility,  problems  are  often  reported  to  the  wrong  person  and  may  go  unnoticed.

-­  Engagement

Meetings  concerning  important  local  changes  often  take  place  off-­site  and  enjoy  a  limited  turn  out.  There  is  little  motivation  for  attendance.

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FRICTITIOUS Â E

NGAGEMENT

Creation  of  an  entity,  as  a  point  of  friction,  where  decisions  and  debates  can  be  acted  out  in  the  theatre  of  everyday  life.  Entities  require  performance;͞  an  active  role  is  to  be  taken.

We  believe  that  by  increasing  interest  in  local  poli-­â&#x20AC;? tics,  the  general  picture  can  be  improved.

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-­ Visibility Information is not available to those who could realistically be involved in democratic decision making. Rather than hiding planning applications in a council building, or holding important meetings behind closed doors, our “lenses” offer a focal point for improving the estate.

-­ Engagement and Performance By creating an access point for relevant local information, within the boundaries of ordinary routine, we provide a lens through which management of the estate can be acted upon in the physical world.

Balancing the decisions of informed individuals is the basis of democracy.

-­ Clarity

HY CLEAR LOCAL HIERAC

The implementation of the Byker trust offers an opportunity for the start of a new democratic way of managing the environment. A single point of contact with administrative representatives is also a venue for discussion.

You shall go to the ball.

The  Ambient  Voting  System The  Ambient  Voting  System Our  aim  was  to  increase  the  poor  Voter  turnout  of  the  Byker  wall  residents, Â

Our  aim  was  to  increase  the  poor  Voter  turnout  of  the  Byker  wall  residents,  include  everyone  and  create  a  system  to  catalogue  and  represent  the  issues  include  everyone  and  create  a  system  to  catalogue  and  represent  the   RI SULRULW\ 7KH RULJLQDO LGHD VDZ WKH %\NHU ZDOO DV D ERG\ ZLWK WKH ¿YH VHQVHV picking  up  the  complaints  of  the  Byker  residents  and  acting  with  a  self  regulat-­ issues  of  priority.  The  original  idea  saw  the  Byker  wall  as  a  body,  with  the  ing  unconscious  system  to  target  problems  as  they  occurred.  To  create  a  fully  ¿YH VHQVHV SLFNLQJ XS WKH FRPSODLQWV RI WKH %\NHU UHVLGHQWV DQG DFWLQJ ZLWK ambient  system  all  inputs  sensors  would  be  undetectable  and  cover  every  inch  a  self  regulating  unconscious  system  to  target  problems  as  the  occurred.   of  the  Byker  public  realm.

To  create  a  fully  ambient  system  all  inputs  sensors  would  be  undetectable  and  cover  every  inch  of  the  Byker  public  realm.

How  would  people  alter  their  behaviour  if  every  action  became  a  vote?  A  short Â

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The Political Sensorium project was an exploration into augmenting ideas diffuse the increasing separation of people and politics, the ambient voting V\VWHP LV D WRQJXH LQ FKHHN G\VWRSLDQ LGHD WKDW PDQLIHVWV LWVHOI DV DQ H[SOR-­ to diffuse the increasing separation of people and politics, the ambient UDWLRQ RI DQ H[WUHPH 7KH SURMHFW IDFLOLWDWHG D FUHDWLYH IUHHGRP WR SOD\ DURXQG voting system is a tongue-­in-­cheek dystopian idea that manifests itself as with an idea which is architectural in its theory of dynamic space and ordered an exploration of an extreme. The project facilitated a creative freedom principles. to play around with an idea which is architectural in its theory of dynamic space and ordered principles.

Many  residents  are  disconnected  from  the  political  system  and  struggle  to  make  sense  of  decisions  made  by  others  about  the  area  in  which  they  live.  This  has  resulted  in  a  high  level  of  voter  apathy,  disengagement  with  the  built  environment  and  to  some  extent  negative  fragmentation  of  the  community.  A  new  spatial  network  mapped  onto  the  urban  form  uses  two  distinct  com-­ SRQHQWV WR FUHDWH D UHĂ&#x20AC;H[LYH DPELHQW system.  Stimulation  the  process  of  asking  questions  whilst  also  creating  D PRUH LQWULJXLQJ SXEOLF GRPDLQ Pathway:  a  vector  along  which  information  moves  from  one  point  to  another.  1RGH D VLQJOH SRLQW WKDW EXIIHUV information  representing  its  proximal  relationships.  When  an  enquiry  has  been  resolved  LW GURSV IURP WKH QRGH $ Ă&#x20AC;RZ RI LGHDV answered  steadily  results  in  a  partially  lit  node.  An  empty  or  full  node  indicates  a  problem  in  the  discourse  between  residents  and  stakeholders. Â

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School of Architecture, Planning, & Landscape The Quadrangle Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU United Kingdom http://www.ncl.ac.uk/apl/gallery/ Š 2012 Newcastle University Book layout by Joanna Hinchcliffe Cover photograph by Andrew Morrison