Abstract
Photography is a critical recording tool in the planning stages of urban development. The camera is used to organise physical information, triangulate the dimensions of space and chart the terrain of a site, usually from above. However, these expansive mechanisms tend to look at the city comprehensively, while the idiosyncrasies and anomalies that contribute to an area’s character at ground-level can sometimes be overlooked. While frequently discussed in urbanism, ‘character’ is a value that is challenging to explicate because it can mean different things to different people; as a result it is often spoken about in hypothetical terms. The digital application Streetset responds to these challenges by prompting city-goers to collect photographic typologies of unique urban characteristics in their local area. Photographic urban explorers such as Eugène Atget, Lisette Model and the late Michael Wolf, have proven that the photographic typology is a powerful tool for collecting motifs which contribute to the identity of the city. Their image collections have been likened to fragments of evidence, attesting to the soul of places and immersing audiences into the disappearing ambience of the street. This paper outlines how Streetset can build upon the work of these practitioners. It introduces the app as a platform to collectively observe and assemble the aesthetic architectural patterns that punctuate our cities, giving them rhythm and meaning. By recording these patterns as a community, we might better understand the unique qualities of the urban environment and express what these places mean to us as citizens.
Presenters
Dan BrackenburySenior Lecturer, Graphic Design, Falmouth University, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2020 Special Focus - Advocacy in Design: Engagement, Commitment, and Action
KEYWORDS
Urban character, Urban redevelopment, Architectural photography, Digital photo-sharing, Architectural typologies
