Date post: | 19-Mar-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | miles-phillips |
View: | 244 times |
Download: | 3 times |
WALKING
Walking
We used walking as a tool for exploring the city since to quote Francesco Careri: Walking is useful for architecture as a cognitive and design tool, as a means of recognizing a geography in the chaos of the peripheries, and a means through which to invent new ways to intervene in public metropolitan spaces.
Initial walks were taken through Colombes to gain a bit of understanding about the area and then this knowledge was used to inform our more strategic walks. Texts such as Michael de Certeaus Walking in the city and the book Urban Flotsam influenced our understanding of walking as a tool.
De Certeau defines walking as a way to experience the city by being within it and shaping the nature of the spaces walked through. He writes: The act of walking is to the urban system what the speech act is to language meaning that walking plays a fundamental part in gaining an understanding of a city. In comparison to this is the birdseye view method of research which looks at the city from above, so to speak, and is a detached view of the city.
Both methods were relevant to gain an overall understanding of Colombes but they were appropriate at different times.
Walking as a tool
WA
L
K
A
C
R
O
S
S
D
E
R
I
V
E
W
A
L
K
T
H
R
O
U
G
H
+
S
E
C
T
I
O
N
T
H
R
O
U
G
H
W
A
L
K
A
L
O
N
G
W
A
L
K
O
U
T
W
A
L
K
A
R
O
U
N
D
Walk types carried out by the studio in Colombes
W
A
L
K
T
O
W
A
R
D
S
W
A
L
K
A
C
R
O
S
S
W
A
L
K
T
H
R
O
U
G
H
W
A
L
K
I
N
T
O
W
A
L
K
A
L
O
N
G
W
A
L
K
O
U
T
W
A
L
K
A
B
O
U
T
W
A
L
K
T
O
W
A
R
D
S
W
A
L
K
T
O
W
A
R
D
S
W
A
L
K
A
C
R
O
S
S
W
A
L
K
T
H
R
O
U
G
H
W
A
L
K
I
N
T
O
W
A
L
K
I
N
T
O
W
A
L
K
A
L
O
N
G
W
A
L
K
O
U
T
W
A
L
K
A
B
O
U
T
W
A
L
K
A
B
O
U
T
Walking types taken from Urban Flotsam: stirring the city
Walking
Walk types...Walk types...
walk types carried out by walk types carried out by the studio in Colombesthe studio in Colombes
De Certeau formed an initial basis for using walking as a tool, however, Urban Flotsam helped us to understand walking as defined in the 7 walk types which can be used to experience spaces.
We focused on 4 of the walking types; walk across, walk along, walk out and walk through.
Walking
Discussions on walking...
Although the four walk types shown on the previous page were our initial starting points, we reinterpreted some of these walks to suit not only the setting of Colombes but also how they could be best used to our advantage. The walk across became a derive, the walk out became a walk around using the centre of Colombes as a marker and then walking around a predetermined boundary to see how the area changes, and walk through created a complementary walk of section through which took a key section through Colombes to study how the area varies walking along that section.
three possible walking routes were marked out: walk around, walk along and walk through or section through
the group discussed what the most appropriate and useful walks would be and how to carry them out
These were the walks carried out across Colombes. Each mapping uses a different style according to what was appropriate for the subject of the walk and this is illustrated through the following drawings.
What we learnt from the walks was a way of analysing the area using the wormseye view. It helped us to actively participate in experiencing the spaces by becoming users within them allowing us, as de Certeau notes, to manipulate spatial organisations.
Prior to our trip to Colombes we only had a birdseye view of the area, however, walking around it strategically allowed us to understand it better through the inside out approach.
DERIVE
WALK THROUGH
WALK ALONG
WALK AROUND
SECTION THROUGH
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
Walking in Colombes...
Drive
Community
DERIVE
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
images from the walk...
This walk around walk was taking the centre of Colombes and then walking west from the main boulevard. The walk was divided into three all with varying experiences.
The red area shows landmarks with lots of activity and an eclectic housing mix with many small interesting streets and cul de sacs. Also it showed that people took pride in their housing and green spaces.
The orange area is the area surrounding the hospital and in close proximity to the A86. There is little or no identity in this area with large homogeneous buildings showing no relation to Colombes. This space was visited during the end of the school day yet the area still felt sparse and un-loved.
The green area shows small and local business, responding to the demographic and cultural diversity in this area. Community facilities, such as passport help and many parks moving back to the centre.
1. Drawn through underpass
2:20pm
2. Mixed dwellings & cul de sacs
2:30pm
3. 70s High density housing
2:40pm
5. Construction site
3:00pm3:10pm
6. Route out of Colombes
7. School
3:15pm
3:35pm
3:40pm
9. Moving back towards the centre
7. Hospital10. Community centre high rise housing development
11. Apartments
3:45pm
3:50pm
4.
Lack of identityVandalism
Ad-hoc development
Enterprise
Culture specific facilities
Activities S
upport services
Green space
Active during school hours Sports
Sparce An edge Disconnected Little or no business
Empty sites New developments Main activity at bustops
Church Green space
Facilities not in use
Green
space
Pride
in gar
dens S
kate-p
ark
Eclectic m
ix of hous
ing Foo
d Garag
e Identit
y
pmmm35
m
00pm
5pm
m
5
0pm0
3:103:
5pm55pm5
3
3:
3:35
0pp0pmm
Ad
on site
ected Little or no busi
Empty sites
AdAdli
e
AdAdAdAdAd
on s
ected ssin
on s
ected
:4003
pp33
cese
3:3
3
at stopn ac opsm:003:033 00
mpm
ort serv
00
ervipp
:4p
2:555
m00pm
m3
prvi
p3:45p3
ervicvi
33ptie
ac
p0
555
0p
pmmem Ma
0p0mm
:400:400
3333
ppppcecesscee
3:33:333
33
atattt stostoopopppusn acn ac opsopsmmmm:00:003:03:03333 0000
mmmpmpm
oelo
men
elo
es
us
pmpmmmmmmmmpmmmm
sinss
mmmm atatay ataa usstsststststu pstoopppppppppooopoop
0
mpmpmmm
33:333333333400p3:4
ppp
pppppmpmppmppmpppmpmp33333333 s
eicicic
ssssssssssesescceeeess
estietiees
acaAd-hAd
3533m 3
33
3
33
33:30000
ve
AdAd-hAd-h
d-hd-h
3Main actia n acti
mmppmp
busususat bt btttatt
003:50
nes
mm
s333333333
3333333333333
fafic
AdAdAdAdAdAdAd
fafaffffsppececi
eicic
ssssppsss
AdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAd
enlo
d-hd-hd-h
AdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAdAd
enenm
eoo
me
me
3:m
:m
1p
mmmmmmen
sineuss
tes
ususin
teste
busi
es
mmp
A VA U D
R A
RRRDDDD EEEE
LLLL '''' EEEE GGGG AAAA LLLL IIII TTTT EEEE
A VD E
L ' E
OOOO UUUU RRRRIIII GGGG AAAA
GGGG AAAA RRRRIIII NNNN
NNNN TTTT HHHH AAAA LLLL
UUUUUU YYYYYY
RD E
L E G N A N
A LL LLDD E
L ' I L EM A R A N T E
AAAA BBBB EEEE RRRR
RP I E R R E
B A D U
AA VVVVV CC EE SSS AAA RR FF RRRR AAAA NN CC KK
AAA VVV PPP AAA UUU LLL DDD UUU
XXX AAA NNNNNNNNNN DDD RR EG OD O N
AA EENN SS
lismA
erpriseCCCC
AAAAA
2:50pm
New villa development
Offices and bakery
Green space- not used
Area 1- eclectic housing mix, pride and identity
Area 2 - hospital and sports- large developments, no identity
WALK- areas felt zoned
Area 3 - responds to demographic, well used spaces
Facility or result in that specific area, due to conditions
COMMUNITY FACILITIES/ ASPECTS
Walk across an area north west of the centre of Colombes. Purpose of the walk was to map community facilties and acspects.
Walking
Public Spaces
DERIVE
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
images from the walk...
This derive was based around the Petit Colombes area. The intension was to explore the different types of social space in this part of Colombes. Each social space was considered based on its level of privacy/public access and on the activities that were taking place within these spaces. It was clear that new developments with communal space were often more private and in some places gated, limiting social interaction in these places.
RRRDDD
CHARL E
SDEGAUL LE
RP I
RRRDDDEEESSS
UUUTTTYYY
RDE
MANTES
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
RRD E
L ' AR R
I VE E
D U DE B A
R C AD E R
E
NI B
OUTS
E
RSARTROU
AI E
OOOOUUURG
DDDEEE
MMMEEETTTZZZ
SSSCCCOOOTTTEEESSSDDD' AAAUUU
RRR
SARTROU
gated areas
semi-private
associated with private buildi
public space
conversing dog walkingworkingparent & child
begging youth gathering
commuting route through
visitingstatic conversation
cyclist consuming
MAPPING PUBLIC SPACES
Walk across Petit Colombes - the purpose of the walk was to map public spaces and activities.
gated areas
semi-private
associated with private buildings
public space
conversing dog walkingworkingparent & child
begging youth gathering
commuting route through
visitingstatic conversation
cyclist consuming
of the walk was
conversingi dog walkingd lkiworkingparent & child
beggingi youth hgathering
commuting route through
visitingstatic iconversation
cyclist consuming
Walking
Walk Along
Uninhabitated Spaces
WALK ALONG
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
This was a walk along the river from Gare du Stade to Colombes via Jardin Familia allotments. The purpose of the walk was to walk along the river Seine from the train station of Gare du Stade to identify uninhabited spaces. These spaces can be categorised into a number including undeveloped open space, empty shells, derelict buildings and developed unused open spaces. As the walk was taken through the main industrial area between Colombes and Gennevilliers, the findings are more recurrent than so within the central area of the town where the land would be more scarce.
images from the walk...
MAPPING UNINHABITED SPACE
Walk along the river - from Gare du Stade to Colombes via Jardin Familia Allotments. Purpose of the walk was to walk along the River Seine from the train station of Gare du Stade to identify uninhabited spaces. These spaces can be categorised into a number including undeveloped open space, empty shells, derelict buildings and developed unused open spaces. As the walk was taken through the main industrial area between Colombes and Gennevilliers, the findings are more recurrent than so within the central area of the town where land would be more scarce.
JARDIN FAMILIAALLOTMENTS
COLOMBESTRAIN STATION
RAILWAY STATIONUNDERPASS GARAGES
OLD STORAGE UNITS
TRAIN NOISEVIBRATIONS
HIGH DENSITY HOUSINGPRIVATE HOUSING
PRIVATE GARDENS
CRECHE FACILITYON-STREET PARKING
SQUATS
ENTERPRISE ZONEHEAVY INDUSTRIES
HIGHWAY INTERCHANGEWATER TRANSPORT
BUS STOPSIGNAGERESTAURANT
HOTEL
PEDESTRIANISED PATHSTEMPORARY SHELTER
EMPTY SHEDSEMPTY HOUSES
VANDALISMPRIVATE THRESHOLD
YOUTH CULTURE
GREEN INITIATIVE
RIVERSIDE
SATELITE AGRICULTURE
POLUTIONFLYOVER
GARE DU STADETRAIN STATION
OVERGROWN!!
DERELICT
NEGLECTED!
OBSOLETE!
TEMPORARY
ABANDONED
TEMPO
RARY
ABANDONED
OBSOLETE
DERELICT
DERELICT
Walking
Infrastructure & its Influence
WALK ALONG
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
images from the walk...
AV
MENELOTTE
R S E L L I E
RSAI N
THI L
AI R
E
RDU
PRESI D
ENT
KENNEDY
AV
JEAN
JAURES
R S A I N T V I N C E N T
RBERTH
A L
D' ARGENT E
UI L
ALL
I RENE
ET
FREDERI C
JOLI O
TCURI E
AV
TROUSSEL
UL
LANGEVI N
AV
JOSEPH
ANTOI N
E
E
EL' I N
DEPENDANCE
R J EA N
J A CQ U E
S RO U S
S E AU
RAUGUSTE
RENOI R
AV
DU
DRAPEAU
MAI1945
AV
CENTRALE
R A L B E R TC A M U S
IMP
SAVR
RTE
DU
PORT
DE
PARI S
AV
NOTE
H E T
RDE
L' A
SSOCI A
TI O
N
E
RVI N
CENT
GARREAU
AV
COURTELI N
E
R J U L I E N G A L
R
AV
SOLFERI N
O
AV
AUGUSTE
CHARLES
RDES
TI L
LE
V O I E S O U T E R R A I N E N o 2
T A I N E
E N I S
P L D E L A F I N L A N D E
V O I E S O U T E R R A I N E N O 1
A VDEST A L I N
GRAD
MAPPING INFRASTRUCTURE & ITS INFLUENCES
Walk along - along the current railway like in Colombes. Purpose of the walk was to follow the railway and witness its surroundings.
G A L
RR
OLFEERII N
O
railway expansion disects existing houses.
housing turns back on railway. infrastructure infilled with car parking.
remnants of original street
higher density beyond
business cut off from neighbour-hood
greenway formed from original railway
fluctuating scale
Walking
This walk was a walk along along the railway in Colombes which has an interesting impact on its urban fabric. The intension was to explore the effects of the railway on the town. It demonstrated the strong dividing force of this infrastructure upon the urban fabric. The mapping exercise revealed that the railway is a dominant feature of the town and acts as a physical barrier to pedestrian movement. Affected streets were either split by the tracks or turned to face away from the railway to form a distinct area with little direct relationship to it.
Walk Around
Civic Buildings
WALK AROUND
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
images from the walk...
This was a walk around the central area of Colombes where we mapped the civic buildings encountered along the peripheral circle we had drawn on the map (and chose to follow as closely as possible). What we found from this walk was that there were a high number of government facilities withing walking distance of the centre of Colombes making it a compact area.
5 min walk
10 min walk
PARTI COMMUNISTE FRANCAIS
BORSE DU TRAVAIL (CIVIC BUILDING)
ECOLE MATERNELLE (LOCAL SCHOOL)
GYMNASE AMBROISE RARE
LOCAL CEMETERY
COLLEGE LAKANAL
SERVICE MUNICIPAL ARIENNE
LOCAL CHURCH
MAGISTRATES COURT
MAPPING CIVIC BUILDINGS
Walk out - central Colombes. Purpose of the walk to map the civic buildings in the area.
Walking
Urban Grain
WALK AROUND
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
images from the walk...
+Ecol
e G
rand
e
walk around Looking back in - images with grey backing
Typologies
UBA Urban Block ApartmentsLR20 Low Rise C20th TB20 Tower Blocks C20th
SR/S Shops with Residences / ShopsVS Villa smallVM Villa MediumVL Villa Large
School/ 1950-60s (Ecoles Felles)School/ extension 1990s
Carp
ark
Tem
pora
ry
Isla
mic
pra
yer
cent
re
Scho
ol 1
/2 w
ith 3
ext
ensi
on
Cons
eul
Gen
eral
des
ha
ut d
e se
ine
Sant
ilare
Ala
in L
ady
Build
ers
Mer
chan
t
n
w
o
d
d
e
s
o
l
c
r
a
b
f
a
C
+++++++
++++++++++
++++++++++++++++
UBA Urban Block ApartmentsLR20 Low Rise C20th TB20 - Tower Block C20thIF/PF Infill / PrefillSR/S Shops with Residences / ShopsVS Villa smallVM Villa MediumVL Villa Large
1 1850 - 18992 1900 - 19493 1950 - present
Typologies
UBA Urban Block ApartmentsLR20 Low Rise C20th TB20 Tower Blocks C20th
SR/S Shops with Residences / ShopsVS Villa smallVM Villa MediumVL Villa Large
UBA Urban Block ApartmentsLR20 Low Rise C20th TB20 - Tower Block C20thIF/PF Infill / PrefillSR/S Shops with Residences / ShopsVS Villa smallVM Villa MediumVL Villa Large
1 1850 - 18992 1900 - 19493 1950 - present
MAPPING URBAN GRAIN
Walk out in Colombes - looking back in. The purpose of the map was to map the different building typologies.
Walking
The train station was used as an epicentre for this walk and we took a radial circle out from this and adjusted this circle as we walked. Where we came to junctions we looked in, so the walk informed us of the districts of Colombes and their relationship to what we perceived as the suburbs focus. While we walked we also looked in and mapped the typologies of buildings we passed.
Walk Through
Social Space & Encounters
WALK THROUGH
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
images from the walk...
The aim of this walk was to identify the social demographic and interactions within a selected area of Colombes - Petit Colombes. The walk identifies various typologies of people and the locations within which they generally appropriate themselves. In addition an age and racial demographic became evident, as did zones of social conditions, mostly instigated or enacted by the physical conditions/barriers within those locations. The walk was carried out a typical working day; however it must be noted that the weekend condition may vary in proportion, although not necessarily in location.
Walking
Section Through
Mapping Human Traces
SECTION THROUGH
Colombes -
Mapping Thematic Walks
The purpose of this walk was to take a key section through Colombes, in this case from the high rise development at Fosses Jean in the north east to the emerging commercially dominated Petit Colomes in the south west. The walk mapped the traces of human activity analysing the use of public spaces along this section through the town leading us to question the way public space is used.
images from the walk...
GRAFFITI
territory
GRAFFITI
territory
GRAFFITI
territory
unwanted goods
unwanted goods
GRAFFITI
territory
rubbish
appropriation
disuse
disuse
rubbish
unwanted goods
unwanted goods
GRAFFITI
territory
appropriation
appropriation
disuse
rubbish
rubbish
rubbish
rubbish
rubbish
rubbish
GRAFFITI
territory
unwanted goods
GRAFFITI
territory
appropriation
GRAFFITI
territoryunwanted goods appropriationdisuse rubbish
MAPPING HUMAN TRACES
Walk through Colombes - from Fosse St. Jean to Petit Colombes. Purpose of the walk to map traces left behind by human activity in order to assess the use of public space.
spaces and buildings which are no longer
used and are in a state of disrepair
literally garbage which is disposed off
and not recycled
household goods and personal items which
have been thrown out on the street
spaces which have been marked in order to signify a person or
groups territorial zone
objects which show a change of use from
their original signifying some sort
of appropriation
The findings...
This walk was carried out over the course of two days. One half (from Fosse St. Jean to the centre of Colombes) was carried out between 10.30am and 12.30pm and the second part of the walk (from the centre of Colombes to Petit Colombes) was carried out between 14.30 and 16.30.
The purpose of the walk was to study the traces that people have left behind in order to understand how public spaces are being used. We also hoped to understand a little about the types of people who used these spaces. We noticed that starting at Fosse St Jean in the north east, the areas surrounded by high rise blocks generally had traces which were rubbish and territorial markings such as graffiti. Moving past the boundary between this high rise and the single villas, the traces became more unwanted goods that had been thrown out onto the streets. As we moved closer to the centre, there were less instances of rubbish and discarded goods and more instances of appropriation and a cleaner environment.
s
e
r
i
e
s
o
f
t
r
a
c
e
s
f
o
u
n
d
a
n
d
t
h
e
i
r
r
e
l
a
t
i
o
n
t
o
t
h
e
t
y
p
o
l
o
g
y
o
f
t
h
e
u
r
b
a
n
f
o
r
m
i
n
t
h
e
a
r
e
a
w
h
e
r
e
t
h
e
y
w
e
r
e
f
o
u
n
d
Walking
Walks book1Walks book2Walks book3Walks book4