As part of Let’s see what happens… Gawn ni weld… an exhibition of Welsh and Chinese artists, the Glynn Vivian team and I worked at Swansea Market for a month, creating a site specific work, during this period we were offered a rooftop tour by John the market manager. From this raised perspective it is possible to see the potential of the flat roofs of Swansea, which dominate much of the city center due to the post war redevelopment in the 50’s and 60’s.
From the roof there is a great series of views allowing a new perspective on such a familiar landscape, many of the shops and buildings are of course empty on this level, but could offer new possibilities of radical cultural and social change that represents an exciting opportunity for a city like Swansea reconsidering its urban landscape. Let’s have a culturally driven and greener city center rather than more chain shops / pound shops and only a belief in retail based development….but how?
Now under major redevelopment with Powell Dobson Architects, could the market roof and the flat roofs of Swansea offer new spaces for occupation, growing and socializing? Powell Dobson’s contribution to CIVIC will focus on the potential of these spaces.
Rooftop Garden, Montreal. http://tinyurl.com/nq97x7k
In 2011/12 A group took occupation of the Dolphin Hotel as a community space, providing gigs, discussion and temporary book shop, now largely still empty the space looks over the market roof site. An interesting intervention into the city center and we’ve got lots more room!
Cwtch – a temporary community center. BBC link here: http://tinyurl.com/pttwpsk
By Owen Griffiths
CIVIC 