[Last modified: October, 26 2024 12:53 PM]
Different meanings and uses of space
For this week’s exercise, I went to Gordon Square and observed people’s activities in the park. The park is an interesting case of a built environment that takes on different meanings for different people. It serves as a workspace—people are sitting on the grass and benches, working on their computers. Others are scrolling on their phones or eating. Still, others are chatting with friends, and there were also clear instances of people visiting the park with their families. Since there were no interactions with the visitors, the intentions behind their presence in the park were not entirely clear. While I had previously assumed that people came for the silence and peace, I realised this time how noisy it actually was. In fact, many people were wearing headphones—perhaps to block out the noise. I think an interesting story could be told about the politics of noise in the city of London. Is noise sometimes considered in the design of environments? Which areas suffer from excessive noise, and what does it mean to have no silent places to go? What areas have parks large enough to create a peaceful environment?
Another aspect that intrigued me was the statue present in the park. I wonder what the rationale behind its placement is and what this says about the function and meaning of the park in the eyes of the governing authorities. I have included a little sketch of the bust next to a tree.
A third interesting point is the relationship between people and the squirrels in the park. The squirrels are prevalent and very responsive to people reaching out their hands to feed them. This suggests that they recognise the benefits of approaching humans when they see this specific movement. On the other hand, people find it adorable that the squirrels react when they reach out. This multispecies relationship is continuously performed by a large number of squirrels and people. I don’t think we can underestimate the importance of this relationship for the squirrels.
