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[Sub]liminal Space and the Modern City: Transforming Contingent Space for Contingent People

Part 2 Project 2011
Holly Galbraith
 Northumbria University Newcastle | UK
The Corner Tower, the lonely fragment of Newcastle’s city wall, currently co-exists in an urban contingent landscape between 19th Century infrastructure and 21st Century commercial development. Sheltering Newcastle’s forgotten citizens- the homeless- who discreetly seek solitude beyond the gaze of the passing public, the wall today merely functions as a liminal passage alluding to the space between the modern city and its historic remains.

Considering the physical state of the wall as a metaphor of the homeless man- forgotten and overlooked by the wider society the project threads together the forgotten spaces adjacent to the tower by publicly re-establishing this protective relationship, highlighting the plight of both the wall and the homeless in gaining society’s acceptance once more. Utilising the ambiguous nature of liminal space as an area to practice tested theories in the creative and performing arts scene the transformative potential of this ‘in-between’ state could be realised.

The project develops a series of spaces re-stitching a disparate landscape that are concerned with the communication, self expression and either the subconscious or physical interaction of the homeless and the public acknowledging the creative arts as a suitable programme for this. Over time the transient nature of these spaces will begin to blur social boundaries, mitigate the implications of homelessness and reduce the exclusion of both the wall and the homeless. This final stage is celebrated by the notional transition of escaping the liminal phase and ‘re-entering’ modern day society through the crossing of the city wall symbolising the homeless man’s re-entry into society.

During the Medieval Period, the Corner Tower created a sense of inclusion, protection and ownership within its walls. Connectivity between the tower and the Quayside to the South was strong utilising the medieval chares that ran perpendicular to the River Tyne to navigate the shift in topography northwards beyond the extent of the city wall. Following the pressure of industrial developments and the growth of an ever sprawling modern city, the piecemeal removal of the wall in the 18th Century weakened the tower’s importance reducing it to a feint memory of its role as a guardian.

Holly Galbraith
Tutor(s)
2011
City, Man and Wall- Transforming contingent space for contingent people
Newcastle's forgotten citizens. The scheme acknowledges the creative arts as a tool for social interaction and communication as a means of facilitating the homeless man’s re-entry into society
Considering the formation of contingent space as a result of Newcastle's rapid growth beyond the limits of the wall. Metaphorically the forgotten fragments of the wall represent the homeless man's absence from society
The association of disused land with the invisible homeless. Removed from the main street, the homeless man retreats along the confined chares. Renowned for hostile activity these northward routes are overlooked by the public
Long Section- From the Quayside to Corner Tower
Developing an urban strategy to reconnect the Quayside to the Tower thus supporting the social ambition of the scheme
Aiming to revitalise this undervalued area of the City, the scheme re-stitches the awkward pockets of contingent space caught between the historic remains and modern developments, reconnecting the Quayside to the Tower
A warm bowl of soup is enjoyed surrounded by friendly conversation outside the evening soup kitchen which overlooks the tiered landscape framing the medieval Town Wall
Croft Stairs Floor Plans orientated North
Curiosity diverts a Sunday evening stroll along the Quayside up Trinity Chare revealing a much needed area of public realm. Hosting intimate lunches and social gatherings alongside spontaneous drama performances
Quayside Floor Plans orientated North
Private studio units cantilever above the animated public space below offering transient moments between the user and the passing public. Subliminal awareness of the homeless dilutes social barriers as they rejoin society
In the absence of a permanent address, an individual mailbox provides the homeless man with a fixed point of contact when applying for job applications
Acoustically designed for solo music recitals or monologues, the intimate spruce clad music hall holds up to 60 spectators keen to witness the City’s newest musical talents or aspiring homeless thespians
The Quayside ensemble respond to the civic street defining a site that has been repeatedly vacant through history. The courtyard symbolises the absence of built form on the site and the charred concrete the Great Fire
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