Aesthetics of decay, worn-out remnants, decline post-industrial. Beautiful ruins. Fragments of the past.
Building Deterioration
There was a familiar aesthetic regarding the buildings during the initial site visit to Dudley High Street. However, a large proportion of the façades that look onto the street have noticeable damage, graffiti or structural issues.
With that said, these images (right) are an insight into some of the damage. If the local authorities saw the high street as a priority, then damages and aesthetics would have been resolved and fixed. However, as there are multiple damages, this assumes that this high street is not one authority wish to preserve.
That said, this opens an opportunity. Instead of being a conservationist and repairing these buildings to their former glory, why not make them a statement piece within the high street. Possibly by placing a blanket ban on all of the current materials seen on the street. Instead, any repairs must be in Zero carbon / Carbon negative materials. This could then become an educational street with great architectural character. Both combined may increase the high streets footfall.
The first step would be to highlight any listed buildings or monuments within the high street.
Rotten wooden wall
Abandoned cafe, broken furniture, hanging wires
Exposed brickwork where tiles have fallen off
Some good 18 + 19C facades but in poor condition
There is a clear presence representing Dudley with the bold red ‘Bostin’ sign at ground level. Chosen for its cantilever first and the second floor, this building could be adapted to have an external space. Also, there is a slight ‘hotel Fouquet barrière’ about the facade as its bricked-up windows represent change over time.
Tiny broken pipe / water fall, spraying people with water as they walk by
Broken windows blacked out
Loss of firm enclosure but still just about maintains the spatial flow
Infrastructure - cladding falling off?
Here's some stuff in a locked yard (that just happened to be open) down Wolverhampton Street. There are what look like two chapels in there.
Rubble + stone
Section loss of firm original enclosure
Water pouring from broken downpipe
Space escapes thro' set back corner splay for traffic sightline has spoilt the street intimacy
YOW AM / DUDLEY Signs
Loss or original building line enclosure too much horizontality
Street scale patchwork
Investigating Facade Damage will highlight where the repair needs to be undertaken.
It is creating an irregular pattern of repair that evolves.
Only intervene when necessary; this proposal will not ‘repair what does not need fixing’ as it appreciates there could be a negative effect on an already declining high street.
Repairs will be constructed with the materials grown on the street as part of the Macro-scale intervention.
Rotten window frames, cracked plaster
Slooow peeling of cladding on 1st + 2nd storeys of bldg
Broken tile edge
This building has been chosen due to the clear retrofit it has already undergone. The building has two halves, a modern function on street level with roller shutter doors. These doors seem very out of place as they are not shy in hiding their presence. Then the top half is traditional stone and mortar with some elements of detailing around the windows. I wonder what the addition would look like with the zero- carbon material repair pallet.
This building has been picked because it is significant as it represents the language slang used in the local area. Not only that, the facade clearly looks worn and requires repair throughout. This is the best place to start as the locals would easily refer to it via slang. So when spreading the news of repair, people would instantly know which building it is.
Infrastructure - cladding falling off?
Alley-waste - glass - furniture - plastic bags