Archive for the ‘Waterscape’ Category

Waterscapes and rhythms

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Where the Lesney factory was
Cycling around Hackney today I took a number of pictures. This one may not look like much, but it represents the rhythm of building and demolition. Just a year or two ago, instead of the crane there was the crumbling Lesney factory that once produced the iconic “Matchbox” toys. While the factory was open, the nearby Kingsmead Estate housed many factory workers. It closed in 1980 and the empty building remained until last year, when the demolition started. Soon there may be flats in place of the crane.
Olympic fence
Of course, cycling along the Lea regularly I have been able to see the Olympic complex and its accompanying walls and fences rise up next to the towpath.
And speaking of the grand cycle of decay and regrowth, the water may also be where old bicycles go to die…
Dead bicycle

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River Lea Ride

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

River Lea Ride from Rachel Aldred on Vimeo .

Here is a video of a short ride along the River Lea from the Daubeney Road pedestrian and cycle bridge to Spring Hill (all within the London Borough of Hackney). The camera is only a fairly basic point-and-shoot, but it takes video strapped to my handlebars (sadly my GoPro seems to be faulty and is on its way to be repaired – hopefully!)

While not of high quality, I think the little film does give a sense of the urban countryside feel of the River Lea, and the different textures of the ride. There is green space alongside the river – Hackney marshes where the film starts, then Walthamstow marshes and Springfield Park with its tennis courts at the end. On the weekday morning when I recorded this video, I saw commuters and joggers, while at the weekend family groups are more common.

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Urban Gardening

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

Urban gardening
Cycling down the Lea into work yesterday morning I came across a newly planted area with herbs and flowers in planters. Some of the plants had been placed in rows of pink, blue, and green rubber gloves, which were lined up along the wall next to the towpath. This is “ Urban Gardening ” by the University of Innsbruck, part of the London Festival of Architecture.
This temporary piece of guerrila gardening reminded me of the “ recycled garden ” further up the Lea, in Hackney’s Leabank Square where my friend Paul lives. I pass this garden every time I cycle into work, and usually look over to see what’s happening. Having a regular cycle route means that you get to experience contrasting rhythms of change, plants and buildings growing, dying back, and being removed…

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