Buildings under Urban Regeneration

Just lately I have been documenting places that are under threat, or in the procedure of redevelopment. Over the last few weeks I have sketched at two locations in London that are going through this process Battersea Park Power Station located at the South bank of the river Thames, Nine Elms and the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth, South East London.  

The Battersea Power station was built in the 30’s and has been inactive since the early 80’s. It was also on the front cover of Pink Floyd’s Animal album. When I was in my late teens I frequently used the train line that passed Battersea Power Station and it was always an iconic landmark for me as the train approached London.I sketched the power station from across the river.I thought that drawing with torn Paper was an appropriate medium to capture the regeneration-taking place.  

The notorious Aylesbury housing estate is the largest in London built between 1963 and 1977 and accommodates about 7600 people. Protests are taking place to save the estate. Residents are being moved off the estate, block by block, re-homed and split up all over the country.

I have used torn paper again in the sketch below, representing its looming future. I couldn’t believe the size of the estate. My sketches don’t quite capture its scale. I was captivated by the walkways leading up to the floors. I liked the cylindrical structure of this one. An interesting thought provoking location.

I have been documenting a forgotten place that has been subject to planning for many years in Norwich. If you want to see more… here is a link to my blog.http://juliebolus.blogspot.co.uk

Buildings under Urban Regeneration

A very successful Private View!

Here are the tweets about last night's private view of the Urban Sketchers London Exhibition at Timberyard Soho.

London urban sketchers at last night's PV for their exhibition @timberyarduk #soho branch pic.twitter.com/pQdw4egU5B

— UrbanSketchersLondon (@UrbSketchLondon) November 4, 2015

There was lots of scope to get up close to the pics.

Great fun at @UrbSketchLondon private view last night @timberyarduk #soho #coffee #exhibition #urbansketchers #new pic.twitter.com/kO9HSz2rtL

— dlm doodles (@dlmdoodles) November 4, 2015

Lots of opportunity to talk with fellow sketchers and those admiring the exhibition

#urbansketchers #London #exhibition #opening @UrbSketchLondon @timberyarduk @urbansketchers pic.twitter.com/BTXW3dCU3y

— Isabel Carmona (@Isacarand) November 4, 2015

and as it got to nine o'clock and the crowds began to go home we could see the artwork better from across the room

brilliant #artwork at @UrbSketchLondon #exhibition at @timberyarduk #soho at y'day's PV, (inc my @BowChurch, left) pic.twitter.com/3Csb9ls1fp

— Nick Richards (@nickrichardsart) November 4, 2015

and this morning we're getting new tweets about the artwork

Some great sketches of the capital for sale @UrbSketchLondon #TimberyardSoho 4 Noel Street London W1 pic.twitter.com/vqEVwZkCc5

— Tanya Paulo (@tanyalizpaulo) November 4, 2015

This was the Hanging Team who did a sterling job getting the exhibition hung last Saturday. I just wandered around sticking the labels up! ;)

Nathan, James, Jo, Evelyn and Olya - in front of the exhibition

...and this is the exhibition under artificial light at the end of the private view last night

The exhibition - after the Private View on Tuesday 2nd November 2015

So... I guess we'll see you all the next sketchcrawls?

• on Saturday 7th November at Borough Market in Southwark - led by Isabel Carmona
• on Saturday 14th November starting and finishing at Timberyard taking in Liberty's, the London Palladium, the BBC and All Souls Church en route - led by James Hobbs

A very successful Private View!