Monday Walking in Fenton

On Monday, I went to Fenton for a pilot study and kept some records by camera. Maybe it’s just a glimpse at Fenton, but I hope this can help build up our desktop stuff and survey tick sheet. Perhaps we can find more about Fenton and things related to the 'tick sheet' methodology.

The following picture showed my route yesterday. Following the methodology from previous posts, I began at the Stoke-On-Trent Railway Station and walked through the south part of Leek Road and City Road, and reached the node which is one of the two ends of Victoria Road. Then walked along the whole Victoria Road and turned to the north part of Leek Road, back to where I started.

Route taken on initial visit to Fenton.

The two ends of Victoria Road are two big nodes with the roundabout connected a series of main roads leading to other parts of Stoke-On-Trent.

Victoria Road can be divided into different parts, because each has their own features, which was reflect in my change of emotion walking down the road. (From south to north)

1. Continuity of the residential area
On the southeast side of Victoria Road is a big area of residential area with some learning schools, so the south corner of Victoria Road is an area when there is transition from a residential area to a main commercial road. Features: residential houses alongside (type); front courtyards between the sidewalk and house (transition); monitor or CCTV in case of theft (safe issue); “Fenton Park” bulletins among residential area (community sense); no trees at all.



2. Combination of Houses/Church/Commercial
Features: boring and unified façade; shuttered doors; narrow road with two traffic lanes; narrow pavement; rarely people stay; no trees at all.

3. Commercial area with a variety of shops
This area basically consists of plenty of shops (clothing, mechanism, food, and supermarket). The width of the road does not stay the same, some of the area needs a little bit for a bigger public space for people to stay (however, with worse infrastructure). Features: colourful advertising bulletin; varied façade; more open and transparent on the ground floor; some awnings outside for people stay; more people walking through the toad; varied width of the road; narrow pavement.

4. Residential houses again with Fenton Park
Some residential houses again appeared along the road, but without front gardens, because the width of the road is too narrow. However, there is Fenton Park alongside, which is big green space, not only connected to Victoria Road, but also connected to different residential communities in the east area of Victoria Rd, which consists of lots of residential houses. The park must be the center of Victoria Rd, however, the space in front of the gate of the park is limited, with only a bust station near the gate. Features: Fenton Park, the mark of “Fenton” (community sense); green and environmental; people stay in the space for a long time (optional activities and recreational activities).

5. Fewer buildings with more grassland and trees
It is an area which transitions from the intensive buildings to less density, which give it a bit more space for grass and planting trees, which definitely contrasts to previous parts of Victoria Road, with little plants. But alongside are fences and brick walls, which get in the way of the view or interaction between people as well as people and buildings. Fewer residents showed up or walked by. Features: more plants; less density; clear boundaries defined by brick walls and fence; fewer people.




6. Fenton Industrial Estate
This space consists of an industrial estate with broader roads and a bigger scale of building and road, which give spaces for the “outside activity space”, which, however, just turn out to be the parking space or the ground with no people at all. A lot of one-storey or two-storey big supermarket and factories alongside and so the view along the road is open, because there are fewer buildings. However the shuttered door and the big scale make people feel less warm, which makes residents just pass by quickly instead of staying. And also, few people walk on this part of Victoria Road. Features: big scale; broader road; big media advertisement bulletin and bigger slogans; few people walking; big burden of traffic; more private cars; strong wind.

7. Small scale of shops and residential houses back again
When getting closer to the node of Leek Road and Victoria Road in the north, the corner space is filled with small scale buildings along the road.



Other observations of Victoria Road:
Bus stops are limited with a long walk between each bus station; more private cars than public transportation (not green and not sustainable as there is less walking); no lanes for bicyclists (bicycle and car even share a road which is dangerous and there are fewer bicycles); little infrastructure (benches, bollards, monuments, plinths of flower bed) for people stay in a space except for the fenton park

Other parts of Fenton (Leek Road, City Road, King Street):
At the intersection of City Road and Leek Road, I found this bulletin which shows "Welcome to Fenton”.



It is interesting that the bicycle lanes sometimes share the road with car, and sometimes share the road with pedestrian, which is really dangerous.

There is more traffic than people walking and bicycling (not healthy), and there seems to be fewer optional or recreational activities outside (not lively).

Section Sketches of Clayton and Trafford

These abstract section sketches (below) can reflect what surround people in specific space, with the proportion of the traffic lane and pavement, the height and scale of the building, the planting as well as the interaction between people and a person and architecture. On our pilot studies I tested this method, first in Trafford and Clayton.

Old Trafford

Clayton

After last Friday’s discussion, it is possible for us to present some of the data collected through these section sketches with the following: colour; lines of interaction; scale; areas covered by CCTV; boundaries; angle of sunlight (healthy); gray space of buildings; how people use the space with the specific behavior we observe; and lines of vision for standing, sitting and children’s level are studied and naturally incorporated in the sectional drawing of buildings and streets. This can be both on the day (visits) or on camera - which should show how the space performs and functions. With more detailed things inserted in the section sketch they could turn out to be simple or abstract. I think it’s interesting when we put the data in and translate it not only into diagrams/graphics but also this vivid way.

Moving Forward

Following the pilot studies, conducted in Manchester last week, attention now turns back to Fenton. On Friday, during a Studio Tutorial we reviewed our mapping methodologies, refined it and the developed a strategy for documenting Fenton.

1. Review of discussion with studio tutors.

The first stage involved a discussion with our studio tutors, reviewing the pilot studies and what data was collected. This discussion continued amongst the group and a few key methodologies emerged, including the desire to develop a form of 'tick sheet' or survey that could be carried out along a route in Fenton. The intention would then be to 'graft' this data onto two-dimensional (in the form of plans and sections) and three-dimensional 'segments' of the route.

2. Key themes each group member wanted to pursue.

However, the exact nature of the study (what data would be collected) was less clear and as such the group went 'back to first principles' and identified the key topics that each member was interested in studying. Areas of similarity and cross over were quickly identified and a condensed set of key themes emerged: Perception, Infrastructure, Control, Regulation, and Scale.

3. Key themes and looking for connections.

The next stage involved identifying a loose research question or statement. The key themes were also further explored as was the idea of 'reduction' and how this could be applied to the themes and data collected. At this stage the notion of layering became prominent, with the intention to collect a wealth of data that could be layered to reveal new or previously hidden relationships.

4. Developing relationships between key themes.

In attempting to define a methodology to reveal the latent characteristics of a place (through the layering of different datasets) the idea of performance was also important, how does space perform?

5. Exploring planning policy relevant to Stoke-on-Trent.

The group then took a sideways step and began discussing current policy that is affecting the wider urban area of stoke-on-Trent, particularly planning policy. Research into Local Development Frameworks for Stoke revealed that Fenton lies at the boundary of two strategic areas of the city: the Inner Urban Core and the Outer Urban Area. It also revealed a proposal in which a future Stoke was defined as the following: a Healthier City; a Learning City; a Wealthier City; a Strong Sense of Community; a Safer City; and a Green City.

6. Mapping the key themes and relevant policy areas.

These six categories provide an interesting lens through which to study the Fenton area. If the intention is to improve Stoke in relation to these characteristics then it is possible to assess the current urban fabric in relation to these categories. Using the previously mentioned tools of tick sheets and surveys the intention is to document a route through Fenton in terms of these six categories. This data will then be grafted onto a three dimensional scaffolding that may reveal particular physical characteristics in the urban form that lend themselves to these categories. Concurrently a study of the 'perceived' Fenton will be carried out, using the same categories, which will enable the group to draw comparisons. There is also the potential to draw comparisons with idealised models.

LANscape Mapping - Trafford

It's A Dog's Life...

Charlie the Dog in Trafford

The Fenton Five were lucky enough to meet Charlie the 91 yr old dog [in dog years], wheeling around just outside Old Trafford Stadium. Unfortunately Charlie has arthritis in his legs and fluid in his lungs making it hard for him to walk. This local has taken it upon herself to get Charlie out into the fresh air...

Pilot Studies

Before heading to Stoke-on-Trent (and more specifically Fenton) the group has carried out a number of pilot studies in areas of Manchester, testing out various different methods of data collection and mapping techniques. The purpose of these pilot studies is to test the various methodologies and review the outcomes of initial forays into the city, including: route and starting point selections; mapping and recording techniques; short tests and reviews of the proposed methodologies; and assembling hardware (maps, cameras, measuring equipment, etc).

Two locations were chosen, Clayton and Trafford. These locations were selected because they have some resemblance to the built environment or urban landscape of the Fenton area of Stoke-on-Trent and therefore any pilot studies carried out there should be reliable. Visits were made across three days, with Clayton being visited on Tuesday 5th October 2011 and Thursday 7th October 2011, and Trafford on Wednesday 6th October 2011 and Thursday 8th October 2011. Prior to visiting each location an initial survey of online maps was carried out to determine which particular area to visit and also determine a starting point. Both areas were accessed via public transport so it was decided that the disembarkation points would be the start of each mapping exercise.

No route was planned before visiting, with the decision taken to follow major routes and then make decisions at junctions with other roads/circulation networks as to whether or not a change of direction was needed. The original intention in Clayton (visited first) was to walk a linear route however during the visit it was decided to change this course of action and carry out a circuit/loop, with investigations or forays into the edges of these routes. The data being collected was also revised along the route to reflect what was being seen/found in that area, these lessons were then applied to Trafford (and then further revised).

Clayton

The Clayton Route was approximately 2.3 miles in length, starting at Sport City before moving into the residential areas bounded by Ashton New Road and Phillips Park/The Vale.

The route taken around Clayton on both visits.

Trafford

The Trafford Route was approximately 1.9 miles in length, starting close to Lancashire County Cricket Club before moving into the residential and commercial areas bounded by Warwick Road and Great Stone Road.

The route taken around Trafford on both visits.

Further documentation and results from these initial pilot studies will be uploaded to this blog, accessible via this tag.