Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Milton Pier - Where water once was
From just north of Shore Avenue on the East coast of the Portsmouth Peninsular, Milton Pier stretches across the expansive coastal open space of Milton Common for half a mile.
The Pier is not a continuous solid structure, but a corridor of creative interventions that evoke the idea of the Milton Common as land re-claimed from the sea. The idea of water flowing in the place where we then stood brought back memories for some of houseboats and cockling in the mud and revealed a history hidden below Portsmouths largest natural grassland area.
The Pier provides a vehicle for the creation of a series of sculptural interventions over the whole site. The trail, no more than three metres wide, stretches across the common, over wild grass, brambles, undulations, paths and ponds.
Platforms and posts made from reclaimed greenheart timber sea defences rise out of the ground, creating places to meet or for solitary contemplation, observation and exploration, a place to rest or for active physical play. The objects are connected by wild flowers that have been planted to enhance the concept of the corridor of interventions that form the pier.
Notions of landscapes changing through human intervention is at the forefront of contemporary environmental study and this work is intended not only to provide a fun and active place for young people but a place for reflection and contemplation.
The Pier is not a continuous solid structure, but a corridor of creative interventions that evoke the idea of the Milton Common as land re-claimed from the sea. The idea of water flowing in the place where we then stood brought back memories for some of houseboats and cockling in the mud and revealed a history hidden below Portsmouths largest natural grassland area.
The Pier provides a vehicle for the creation of a series of sculptural interventions over the whole site. The trail, no more than three metres wide, stretches across the common, over wild grass, brambles, undulations, paths and ponds.
Platforms and posts made from reclaimed greenheart timber sea defences rise out of the ground, creating places to meet or for solitary contemplation, observation and exploration, a place to rest or for active physical play. The objects are connected by wild flowers that have been planted to enhance the concept of the corridor of interventions that form the pier.
Notions of landscapes changing through human intervention is at the forefront of contemporary environmental study and this work is intended not only to provide a fun and active place for young people but a place for reflection and contemplation.
Design Methodology
Based on my research I have developed a design concept that responds to the special nature of Milton Common and the way it is used by local residents.
Milton Common has plenty of ‘natural play’ opportunities in its current form and my proposals aim to encourage further Exploration, Play and Discovery across the whole site through revealing some of the hidden aspects of the Common and to build stronger links between human activity, wildlife habitats and a historical and cultural understanding of the site.
Through a holistic understanding of the area the designs will create new play opportunities
that generate further exploration across the Common. The proposed creative interventions
will encourage a deeper understanding of the site and the relationship we have with the
‘natural world’.
Milton Common has plenty of ‘natural play’ opportunities in its current form and my proposals aim to encourage further Exploration, Play and Discovery across the whole site through revealing some of the hidden aspects of the Common and to build stronger links between human activity, wildlife habitats and a historical and cultural understanding of the site.
Through a holistic understanding of the area the designs will create new play opportunities
that generate further exploration across the Common. The proposed creative interventions
will encourage a deeper understanding of the site and the relationship we have with the
‘natural world’.
Feedback
Over the three days spent at Milton Common I spoke to a total of 44 people: those aged 6-14 years (29), 15-21 years (0), 22-59 years (6) and those over 60 years (9)
The dog walkers
Generally 60 years+. Usually on their own or in couples, often stopping to chat with other dog walkers. Predominantly walking on the paths to the coast and taking a circular route back. From those who I spoke to, their main interests were the views over Langstone harbour and the ecology of the site. Some of the older residents were keen to tell me about how the land had been reclaimed and where the shoreline used to be. There was a real sense of pride and ownership over the Common and the main concerns for the place were: housing development; anti-social behaviour in the form of large groups of young people drinking, and the rubbish.
The players
Between 8-13 years. Always at least two together and in groups of up to six or seven. The young people seemed to walk or cycle to the sea front and return the same way they came. They were all very happy to participate and enjoyed making drawings to illustrate their ideas for the common. Once we moved beyond ideas for fixed play (i.e. bigger slides & swings) they came up with loads of ideas using natural and reclaimed materials including colour trails, climbing structures, humps & bumps, mazes, and a bird watching platform. The beach was a real attraction, particularly crabbing, and bike riding was very popular. There was very little understanding of what the site was like before it became the common.
The families
All ages and using the whole site. The children used the site in the same way as ‘the players’ although would usually be younger than those out on their own. The families enjoyed doing things together and were keen that new ‘play opportunities’ should consider the parents as well as the children. It was no real surprise to learn that the weather and seasons played a huge role in how long families would stay on the Common and the activities they engaged in.
The twitchers
Usually male, over 50, solitary, with binoculars and camera close at hand. Often standing very still on the seaward periphery of the common, wearing an aura of ‘do not disturb’. So I didn’t.
The dog walkers
Generally 60 years+. Usually on their own or in couples, often stopping to chat with other dog walkers. Predominantly walking on the paths to the coast and taking a circular route back. From those who I spoke to, their main interests were the views over Langstone harbour and the ecology of the site. Some of the older residents were keen to tell me about how the land had been reclaimed and where the shoreline used to be. There was a real sense of pride and ownership over the Common and the main concerns for the place were: housing development; anti-social behaviour in the form of large groups of young people drinking, and the rubbish.
The players
Between 8-13 years. Always at least two together and in groups of up to six or seven. The young people seemed to walk or cycle to the sea front and return the same way they came. They were all very happy to participate and enjoyed making drawings to illustrate their ideas for the common. Once we moved beyond ideas for fixed play (i.e. bigger slides & swings) they came up with loads of ideas using natural and reclaimed materials including colour trails, climbing structures, humps & bumps, mazes, and a bird watching platform. The beach was a real attraction, particularly crabbing, and bike riding was very popular. There was very little understanding of what the site was like before it became the common.
The families
All ages and using the whole site. The children used the site in the same way as ‘the players’ although would usually be younger than those out on their own. The families enjoyed doing things together and were keen that new ‘play opportunities’ should consider the parents as well as the children. It was no real surprise to learn that the weather and seasons played a huge role in how long families would stay on the Common and the activities they engaged in.
The twitchers
Usually male, over 50, solitary, with binoculars and camera close at hand. Often standing very still on the seaward periphery of the common, wearing an aura of ‘do not disturb’. So I didn’t.
Approach
To understand this large area of reclaimed land I have focused on a holistic approach, spending time on the Common engaged in walking, looking, listening, talking to people, picking up objects, collecting anecdotal information, drawing, writing and taking photographs. Alongside this empirical research I have collected historical maps and information about the flora and fauna with help from the PCC team.
The core of my research consisted of a series of workshops aimed at learning about the
Common from the people who use it. For three days between the 28th to the 30th October I based myself on the Common with the specific intention of attracting interest from passers by and gathering information.
Conversations with adults took the form of creative consultation, giving me an opportunity to learn about the history of the Common, their fears and aspirations for the site and ask how they thought young people’s experience of the Common could be improved.
The informal workshops with young people were similar although I put much more emphasis on expressing the future potential of the Common through drawing.
The core of my research consisted of a series of workshops aimed at learning about the
Common from the people who use it. For three days between the 28th to the 30th October I based myself on the Common with the specific intention of attracting interest from passers by and gathering information.
Conversations with adults took the form of creative consultation, giving me an opportunity to learn about the history of the Common, their fears and aspirations for the site and ask how they thought young people’s experience of the Common could be improved.
The informal workshops with young people were similar although I put much more emphasis on expressing the future potential of the Common through drawing.
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