Open space in front of Saatchi Gallery

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

06.NOV.2008 London Walk 2
Paddington to Sloane Square

There is a small open space in front of Saatchi Gallery and it is surrounded by many shops, a bus stop and a football ground for children. The most interesting thing to me was an artistic shape of pole and, the pole is located in next of rectangular benches made of concrete, and looks like a pole with 4 legs. I was not sure whether it is light or not but it works well with benches to make a view of geometrical space.

I am interested in open spaces as public places and parks among buildings in cities, because, it may be an oasis for people who are exhausted by works in a city, so that kind of places are very important and needed today. That open space looks like a concourse between the modern gallery and ordinary buildings.

The John Madejski Garden in V&A

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

06.NOV.2008 London Walk 2
Paddington to Sloane Square

The garden in the middle of V&A museum was made with water in centre of the square surrounded brick museum buildings. Feature of water is vertical shape of water as a fountain and water on the ground with stairs in harmony. It looked calm but not boring because of fountains on 3 levels stairs. Moreover, it gave me time to think about using water effectively with levels to make various landscapes in a garden.

“An oasis of tranquillity in the very heart of London, the John Madejski Garden provides a beautiful setting for summer receptions. Situated in the quadrant of the V&A with its ellipse and impressive façade, the garden is one of London’s hidden treasures. It is particularly magical when floodlit at night.”

- http://www.vam.ac.uk/

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Hyde park, London

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

06.NOV.2008 London Walk 2
Paddington to Sloane Square

Unfortunately, Diana Memorial Fountain was in a process to be removed after temporary exhibition in hyde park so I could not see people’s movement and shape of structure properly.
However, I could see an example that memorial structures can be taken in either a public space or a beautiful site not like ordinary temples and etc.
So I think the place may make people feel more comfortable to visit and have time to mourn for her as well.

“The design for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain by Gustafson Porter has gone through a number of key stages. It began with the designers’ first model of the Memorial and their description of the complex textures, patterns and water features on its surface that would make the water tumble, cascade, curl and bubble as it ran its course. It also involved the development of the hydraulic design of the various water jets in collaboration with Arup engineers. The challenge was to make this vision into a technically deliverable programme of work.“

-http://www.gustafson-porter.com/

Paddington to Sloane Square

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

06.NOV.2008 London Walk 2

Paddington to Sloane Square

Paddington basin and open spaces among office buildings near the canal in Paddington.

Landscape of a canal in guildford

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

13~17.OCT.2008 Field study visit
A Canal in Guildford

I think canals are not only routes for boats but also space that included cultural, historical and environmental things to create special views mainly based on water.
There are various landscapes and natural views even though many canals are manmade routes.
Therefore, I was pleased to see beautiful scenery during a trip by a narrow boat.

Detail of a canal lock

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

13~17.OCT.2008 Field study visit

There is a lock which is next of restoration site and is not used nowadays in Wey&Arun Canal.
As you can see, canal locks look like that pictures and normally they are made with two sluices between different parts of levels in a canal.

Wey&Arun Canal Restoration

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

13~17.OCT.2008 Field study visit
Wey&Arun Canal Restoration

Recently, a lot of canals including locks are under construction as restoration in UK because of its decrepitude, new routes as follow as recent roads and restoration of historical canals that are not used today.

“Whenever a derelict canal is to be restored, the first practical job is to clear out and remove the growth of trees, bushes etc which have grown up during the period when the canal was neglected. This is often called 'jungle bashing' or 'jungle busting'. In the case of the Wey & Arun Canal the period of neglect had been well over a century.”

The Wey&Arun Canal trust- http://www.weyandarun.co.uk/rest.php

Guildford

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

13~17.OCT.2008 Field study visit

A Canal lock

It was the first time to sail a canal narrow boat and pass a lock so very interesting. In fact, I have had no idea about canals and even a way to sail because there is no special culture of canals in Korea. However, I could learn and see how canal locks work properly during that sailing and I think locks are important between two parts of a canal that have different levels. The lock helps boats to go through from a high level canal to a low level one like a lift for boats.

River wey Navigation

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

13~17.OCT.2008 Field study visit

Pictures of historical narrow canal boats, present boats in River Wey Navigation and the model of a lock at Dapdune Wharf(the national trust).

WWT London wetland centre

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008

04.NOV.2008 WWT London wetland centre

At first, I was impressed by the fact that wetland can exist in central of the huge and busy capital city. I think that kind of places with ecological and environmental importance, are generally located in suburbs of a city because of economical value of lands. However, London wetland centre is amazingly huge, well made in the city and included various views of nature and facilities to watch animals mainly birds.
It was very interesting to observe birds in wooden houses called ‘hide’ including windows to watch birds not to make them surprised. In addition, there are many areas to educate children and visitors about birds, insects, wetland plants and etc so it is easy to understand why and how wetland is important.

“The 42 hectare London Wetland Centre is the best urban site in Europe to watch wildlife, an international award winning visitor attraction and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).”

-http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/119/visit/wetlandcentre/.html

The website of WWT- http://www.wwt.org.uk/

WWT London wetland centre

Photographs by Bo-Kyung in 2008