Andreas Baeing has uploaded some stunningly grim images of his local urban environment to our Flick Pool the 'Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces' for the forthcoming reader contributed book.Pictured above right is is an example of extreme CCTVing plus some barb-wiring, located in East Manchester. Andreas notes that living in England means, you are recorded on some CCTV system all the time. Which we have to say is true, the average person in the UK is recorded on CCTV 300 times a day.
Continuing Andreas's tour is, in his own words, a rather strange urban structure... It is the ventilation building for the Wallassey tunnel across the Mersey in North Liverpool. It is horrible and fascinating at the same time, somehow a reminder of early science fiction movies
And our final pick of Andreas's images from the pool is a vacant tower block in East Manchester. One can see that some of the rooms of been burnt out, he assumes by arson attacks.
If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.
Once you have your photograph, at as high a resolution as possible, you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.
Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book and how to take part.
A full archive is kept at the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)
Hey Andreas,
ReplyDeletethanks for your contribution, I knew the PlaNet Network would be interested.
Andy, I emailed your Blog-URL to my felllows from the PlaNet Network (http://www.planningnetwork.org) as well as to some young people from ISOCARP (http://www.isocarp.org/), knowing they can contribute interesting examples for the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces.
"Andreas notes that living in England means you are recorded on some CCTV system all the time."
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm afraid Andreas is patently wrong about this. Not only is it a practical impossibility; but one only has to recall, for instance, how many incidents worthy of investigation by the police are hampered by the absence of video evidence.
More surprisingly you state: "Which we have to say is true, the average person in the UK is recorded on CCTV 300 times a day." Rubbish. After 20 years immersed in the CCTV industry I can assure you that this is an urban myth repeated by undiscerning journalists until they believe their own tosh. The academic work that led to this magic figure can easily be shot to pieces. Please stop repeating this nonsense to people innocent enough to believe your incorrect assertion.
Rant over, but it needed clarifying. Apart from that, I very much enjoy the blog. Keep up the good work.
Rant allowed :) thats what the comment box is for..
ReplyDeleteGood points about the CCTV, i picked up the 300 times a day from a journalistic article and agree it could well be an urban myth.
In London however we are monitored almost everywhere we go and having worked with the police on crime mapping i'm aware that know one knows where all the CCTV cameras are or how many.
I find this alone quite shocking...
Andy