Read, Howard (2019) The role of drawing in the regeneration of urban spaces. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University. Downloaded from: https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/626054/ Usage rights: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Deriva- tive Works 4.0 Please cite the published version https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk The role of drawing in the regeneration of urban spaces Howard Read PhD 2019 The role of drawing in the regeneration of urban spaces Howard Read A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Manchester Metropolitan University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy PAHC Manchester School of Art March 2019 1 Abstract: This PhD project critically analyses processes of urban regeneration using drawing as a core research method. The methodology applies a synergy between drawing practice and theoretical writing about urban spaces, regeneration and the city. The project uses the contested regeneration of the Elephant and Castle in south east London as its primary case study. The area has an extensive historical visual record of urban change and redevelopment since the nineteenth century. The thesis integrates current theories and debates on drawing with urban regeneration. It is partly an account of the drawing process, what I have witnessed and how I recorded it, and how this relates to the theoretical aspects of the research. I have interlinked the multi-themed purposes and motivations behind urban regeneration, visual planning and the London imaginary in the thesis. Many aspects of the stages of urban regeneration have been under-observed, and official visual representations by developers and the local council dominate the flow of public information and perception of changes taking place. Through a location-based, heuristically positioned drawing practice I have sought to document the stages of destruction and renewal in the landscape and contextualise this within the discourses of historical and contemporary urban regeneration. My aim has been to use drawing as a campaigning tool and offer a visual counter-narrative to corporate and officially sanctioned visions. The project has taken a critical view of the market-driven approach and the loss of social housing. The existing literature does not combine these two methodologies and my intention has been to unite them through research into urban regeneration and my own drawing practice. 2 Acknowledgements Undertaking a part-time PhD while living in London and working in Wolverhampton has been made rewarding by family, close friends and many professional colleagues. My visits to Manchester since 2012 have always been informative and enriching. I am particularly indebted to Eamonn Canniffe (director of studies) and Dr Clinton Cahill for their supervisory guidance and support throughout my PhD journey at MMU. Being able to draw on Eamonn’s extensive historical architectural and urban knowledge has been invaluable and helped focus my research. Clinton’s knowledge of drawing as practice and writing about the theoretical connections have been detailed, precise and equally indispensable. I have been generously supported by The University of Wolverhampton and in particular the Wolverhampton School of Art. Research time has been allocated to allow me to attend conferences, write-up the thesis and exhibit my drawing. I would like to thank colleagues in the Illustration department for their generous support and forbearance. Many friends and family have encouraged and motivated me throughout the research offering advice and taking part in stimulating debates about the nature of drawing and urban regeneration – all have helped shape the outcome. This PhD is dedicated to my parents Ann and John Read. 3 Contents page 2. Abstract 3. Acknowledgements 4. Contents 8. List of figures 15. Introduction 18. Literature Review 18. Background information 18. Elephant and Castle: historical and visual context 23. My practice-led research 23. The artist as reporter 25. War reporting and defining embodiment 26. Citizen journalism, censorship and being embedded 27. Contemporary reportage drawing and the use of photography 30. The Olympics Drawn and drawn PhD research projects 31. Practitioners writing about drawing 34. Towards a theory of the sketch 35. Psychogeography 37. Architecture, planning and the sketch 39. Phenomenology and drawing landscape 39. Merleau-Ponty and Cézanne’s Doubt 40. The Intertwining and disclosure of the world 41. Merleau-Ponty, art and political engagement 42. David Bomberg and the London landscape 42. Phenomenology and architectural theory 43. Phenomenology and Psychogeography 44. Construction sites, labour and the use of tools 4 45. Chapter 1. Elephant and Castle regeneration: the historical and visual context 45. Introduction 47. The London imaginary 49. The age of Improvement 50. Elephant and Castle Inn: Thomas Rowlandson 54. Nineteenth Century London 55. Dwelling, displacement and land clearance 57. Documenting poverty and social reform 59. The inter-war years 59. London Blitz and post-war planning 63. Modernism v tradition 63. The County of London Plan 1943 66. 1949: Picture Post editorial feature on Elephant and Castle 67. The Festival of Britain 1951 69. 1955: London County Council plan for Elephant and Castle and Ernö Goldfinger 74. Elephant and Castle shopping centre 77. Social housing and the creation of the new boroughs 78. Construction of the Heygate estate, Elephant and Castle 82. The Thatcher government: privatization, regeneration and housing policy 84. 1980s Urban regeneration policy in London 85. Elephant and Castle: Alexander Fleming House 86. The London borough of Southwark and regeneration 87. Elephant and Castle regeneration revived: Heygate estate and replacement housing schemes 89. New build regeneration 92. An overview of the 2011 London plan and regeneration strategy 93. Elephant and Castle new town centre 2018 96. Conclusion 97. Chapter 2. My practice-led research 97. Introduction 97. Visual reference points 5 99. Sketchbooks and working methods 102. Timeline and drawing knowledge 103. Sketchbook 1. October 2012 – December 2012 106. Sketchbook 2. December 2012 – May 2013 109. Studio drawings 112. Sketchbook 3. February 2013 114. Sketchbook 4. June 2013 118. Sketchbook 5. July 2013 – November 2013 121. Sketchbook 6. November 2013 – May 2014 131. Sketchbook 7. June 2014 – August 2014 136. Sketchbook 8. June 2014 138. Sketchbook 9. June 2014 – September 2014 144. Sketchbook 10. October 2014 – April 2015 149. Sketchbook 11. May 2015 – December 2015 152. Sketchbook 12. April 2016 – November 2016 157. Sketchbook 13. May 2016- July 1017 158. Exhibition of visual research, sketchbooks and studio drawings 163. On-going documentation and site access 165. Elephant and Castle town centre – council vote 167. Conclusion 170. Chapter 3. Towards a theory of the sketch 170. Introduction 171. First thoughts – Primi pensieri 173. Fieldwork: the flâneur and psychogeography 179. Visual planning and post-war British culture 181. Townscape: Cullen’s visual contribution 184. Townscape and serial vision 186. Alternative views on townscape 188. Feliks Topolski and John Berger 190. The architectural sketch: An Elephant and Castle case study 193. NATØ (Narrative Architecture today) 6 196. Architecture and London Planning 197. Will Alsop and the ‘Bruce effect’ 199. Witherford Watson Man (WWM) 200. The contemporary sketchbook 202. Duration and memory 204. Drawing as reclamation 206. Conclusion 208. Chapter 4. Phenomenology: Elephant and Castle and the London landscape 208. Introduction 210. Merleau-Ponty in context 211. David Bomberg and the bomb-sites of London 212. The materiality of charcoal 214. Bomberg, Berkeley and phenomenology 215. Bomberg’s teaching and legacy 219. The embodied nature of buildings 222. The nature of building sites 223. The use of tools 225. Elephant and Castle case study: The builders 229. Phenomenology and urban memory 231. Erasure and social housing 233. Forgetting 236. Remembering 238. Conclusion 239. Contribution to Knowledge 241. Bibliography 266. Appendix 1. documentation of visual research 7 List of Figures Chapter 1 1. H. Read Fractured Stairwell – sketchbook 1 2. H.Read Barrier and new construction – charcoal drawing 3. Jessie Brennan A Fall of Ordinariness and Light – the enabling act 4. H. Read Demolition October 2014 5. Wenceslaus Hollar, The post-fire map of London 1666 5. John Roque, Map of London 1766, Detail from panel 3b 7. Thomas Rowlandson, Elephant and Castle junction c.1802-1820 8. James Pollard, Elephant and Castle pub 1826 9. Descriptive poverty map 1889 10. London County Council, bomb damage map 76 11. London Replanned 1942 12. ‘Batt’ Oswald Barrett illustration 1. 13. ‘Batt’ Oswald Barrett illustration 2. 14. County of London plan 1943, William Walcot’s drawing of the proposal for Elephant and Castle 15. Bert Hardy photograph 16. Abram Games Poster 1951 17. LCC, 1956 model of proposal for Elephant and Castle 18. New sites of London LCC 19. Presentation drawing of Alexander Fleming House by Jacob Blacker 20. Presentation drawing of Alexander Fleming House 21. Ernö Goldfinger masterplan sketch for Elephant and Castle 22. Photograph of construction underway at Elephant and Castle in 1961 23. Ernö Goldfinger model for Elephant and Castle 24. Marketing image of Boissevain and Osmond’s shopping centre design 25. Presenataion drawing by Hugh Cannings of Ernö Goldfinger’s shopping centre design 26. Gurney Street tenements c.1972 27. Photograph of the Heygate estate under construction c.1973 8