Playground folklore always suggests that bike sheds are ‘multi functional’ public spaces. Far from being a simple store for teenage transport they are often represented as a centre for experimentation, and the building of illicit experience. Judging by this image, the social interaction is much more akin to an old fashioned school disco, with at least four bike stands acting as chaperon. The body language also suggests that there is only one person in charge of this situation. Sitting with a certain amount of elegance and comfort on a standard bike stand is quite and achievement.
As part of a walk recently, I ventured though a local churchyard and came across this moving memorial to a local child. It was extraordinary not only in its scale but also in the variety of objects that had been accumulated. It reminded me instantly of the outpouring of grief following the death of Diana Princess of Wales. It also reminded me of the increasingly frequent, and often informal representations of mourning that are appearing within the public realm. Although a difficult topic to face, our attitudes towards the dead, and in particular those who have been victims of violent crime or traffic accidents, is relevant to the study of how the public realm is experienced. More… »
In a previous post ‘go play in the street’ I looked at the spontaneous use of street furniture as unintentional play structures. I also promised to post any further examples that may be of interest. Well we happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture this short clip. I suppose if it looks like a slide, slides like a slide then it’s going to be used as a slide. It was a fair drop to the pavement should things go wrong, fortunately they didn’t, at least, not while we were watching.
The use of a mobile phone within the street has become such a common sight that we almost ignore it. Our ability to divide our attention adequately enough to hold a phone conversation and navigate through the hustle and bustle of the high street has been readily adapted from simply walking with a friend. More… »
We came across this little act in life’s play the other week. It’s nice to see these scenearnos because they tend to reinforce much of Citysquared’s philosophy. The fitment of these standard Sheffield bike stands has serendipitously created the perfect place for this couple to pause, light up and have a face to face chat. More… »
