From my last tutorial with Benachir (my personal supervisor) before the weekend, it was generally agreed that all the research I've been doing so far is great in terms of local regeneration at a small scale and making this part of the city work. What the project is lacking, though, is a 'driver'; something to give New Basford a new identity of its own that would encourage people who are NOT locals to be there. There are numerous examples of city districts that have reinvented themselves in this way; Canary Wharf in London became a financial district in the 80s/90s while in Paris, the Cite de la Musique opened in 1995 (no prizes for guessing what it was all about). Closer to home, the Lace Market area of Nottingham has tried something similar in terms of culture and new media:
So the question is, what can New Basford use as the driving force for regeneration? What can this old industrial town/run-down residential suburb orientate itself around and use as a spring board?
I have the beginnings of an idea, though I should point out that A) this has not yet been run past a tutor, B) is only in the very early stages of research and C) isn't exactly what you'd call my area of expertise. This idea, in a word, is:
Fashion.
To anyone who knows me, this immediately sounds like a ridiculous idea. I've never owned a copy of Vogue in my life and, in fact, am far more likely to be heard flinging scorn and derision in the direction of models who starve themselves in order to look a bit weird in the name of decadent capitalism than I am to be wondering aloud if my arse looks big in whatever piece of denim happens to be screening it from public view on that particular morning. (For the record, it never does.)
So how have I arrived at this? The reasons, once you stop to think, are fairly obvious really. For one thing, I have already established that New Basford was, at one point, stiff with lace factories, hosiery warehouses and bleaching works. The lace industry may be long gone, but textiles, and particularly clothing never really left Nottingham, they simply reinvented themselves. The fashion design courses at Nottingham Trent University are frequently ranked among the best in the country and labels such as Acorn Textiles and Pretty Green (Liam Gallaghers label, which is the frontman from Oasis for anyone reading this outside the UK. You know, Champagne Supernova and all that.) have their design offices based in Nottingham. The idea is rooted both in historical and current context.
Along with the above, a case can be made for return of textile manufacturing to the city. While fashion manufacturing is, by and large, outsourced to countries with cheap labour costs (China etc), efforts are being made to return to British-made production. A good example of this is the Campaign for British wool, which is sponsored by none other than the Prince of Wales. Ethical issues there, maybe?
In terms of architecture, the driver throws up all sorts of potential buildings. Design spaces, show spaces, manufacturing facilities as well as associated press/magazines and hotels/facilities for large events are all possible responses. In addition, other architectural projects revolving around fashion include:
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| Nottingham Contemporary Art Gellery in the Lace Market, opened 2008 |
I have the beginnings of an idea, though I should point out that A) this has not yet been run past a tutor, B) is only in the very early stages of research and C) isn't exactly what you'd call my area of expertise. This idea, in a word, is:
Fashion.
To anyone who knows me, this immediately sounds like a ridiculous idea. I've never owned a copy of Vogue in my life and, in fact, am far more likely to be heard flinging scorn and derision in the direction of models who starve themselves in order to look a bit weird in the name of decadent capitalism than I am to be wondering aloud if my arse looks big in whatever piece of denim happens to be screening it from public view on that particular morning. (For the record, it never does.)
So how have I arrived at this? The reasons, once you stop to think, are fairly obvious really. For one thing, I have already established that New Basford was, at one point, stiff with lace factories, hosiery warehouses and bleaching works. The lace industry may be long gone, but textiles, and particularly clothing never really left Nottingham, they simply reinvented themselves. The fashion design courses at Nottingham Trent University are frequently ranked among the best in the country and labels such as Acorn Textiles and Pretty Green (Liam Gallaghers label, which is the frontman from Oasis for anyone reading this outside the UK. You know, Champagne Supernova and all that.) have their design offices based in Nottingham. The idea is rooted both in historical and current context.
Along with the above, a case can be made for return of textile manufacturing to the city. While fashion manufacturing is, by and large, outsourced to countries with cheap labour costs (China etc), efforts are being made to return to British-made production. A good example of this is the Campaign for British wool, which is sponsored by none other than the Prince of Wales. Ethical issues there, maybe?
In terms of architecture, the driver throws up all sorts of potential buildings. Design spaces, show spaces, manufacturing facilities as well as associated press/magazines and hotels/facilities for large events are all possible responses. In addition, other architectural projects revolving around fashion include:
 |
| Tokyo Fashion Museum, design by MUS Architects |
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| Fashion Pavilion, John Lewis and Grimshaw Architects
Amongst others. So, let's give this a go and see where it takes me. Thanks go to Sarah Griffiths for some of the info above.
(By the way, if anyone who reads this has any ideas about things that would be good to look at in terms of research, please do share in the comments. Or if you have any comments in general, actually.) |
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