"The decision to distinguish clearly between triangular meadows and beds on one side, and kidney-shape planting with well-oriented, curved seating on the opposite side, only adds to the design integrity."
"The hatched surface of the central ‘square’ suddenly reveals itself as a reference to the axis of Caledonian Road, overlayed with the axis of Piper Close"
Michael Asselmeyer, Principal Urban Designer, LB Islington
Burnley Public Art Programme (continued)
The four proposals that stayed the course of the community engagement phase are designed for the open areas called 'cleared sites' that are left in the wake of extensive housing demolition.
The four proposals are for: a landform using demolition spoil to create a public space; Green Streets, a project that will turn roads into front gardens - there is a dirth of private open space close to housing across the sub-region; Strawberry Fields, a pick-your-own planting project; and 'Peer Plaques' a direct action project in which ‘knee-jerk’ statements by members of the general public are printed on giant scale plaques attached to boarded-up houses.
The ideas did not come from the community: rather, they were designed by the artist-architect team and shaped by the community during discussion with them. We argue that this is precisely the role of the artist-architect. Louise Kirkup, senior planner at Burnley Council explains: ‘The artists’ ideas changed, they’ve become more in line with issues that people are interested in, for example the use of cleared sites. It shows they’ve listened to people.’‘It was agreed that the idea of a formal exhibition would not work in this community. It might satisfy the project’s client but would attract very few residents.’
above: Proposal for a site specific instance of Landform proposed at a neighbourhood 'centre' in Daneshouse
left: Proposal for a site specific instance of Strawberry Fields stringing together several cleared sites in Daneshouse
above (top): Proposal for a multiple instalation of Peer Plaques on boarded-up properties in Burnley Wood
above (bottom): Detail of one of the Plaques