Society. Spaces. Screens
Abstract
When urban areas are developed or renewed, they are typically examined through systematic surveying strategies that focus on the interrelationships between physical structures. Technological apparatus such high-resolution aerial photography, LiDAR scanning and AI assisted virtual landscape modelling now inform in such processes, offering precise and expansive views of urban landscapes in exacting detail. In contrast, late nineteenth-century topographic photographers viewed cities as cryptic topographies, best understood through fragmented, street-level perspectives. Drawing upon the work of these pioneering urban investigators, this research establishes a new approach for recognising, analysing, and applying the personal and ethereal aspects of the built environment that are often overlooked in photographic surveys today. The study is synthesised through a photographic investigation of three contemporary redevelopment sites in Portugal. A resulting video essay explores the ways in which strategic photographic walking methodologies can be used to gather, discuss, and validate the characteristics of urban areas undergoing renewal.
Dan Brackenbury is a lens-based designer whose practice explores the transience and atmosphere of architectural environments. He holds a PhD in Architecture from the Royal College of Art and his work has been exhibited at venues such as the BFI Southbank, the Science Museum, the ICA and the Tate Modern. He is Senior Lecturer in Design at Bath Spa University and Course Leader on the MA in Graphic Design at Falmouth University. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 11th December, 2024