arrivalocity
play
before you
plan
About Play Before You Plan is a set of 2 short mobilebased games and 1 guided tour that challenge players to experience and value the complex cultural economies of Rye Lane. Players sample scenarios of starting a new business, raising a young family and re-envisioning the future of the street. Why do streets matter? Streets are real-time, open archives of urban change. Unpredictable economic, social and cultural practices emerge from the compressed test strip of a city street. Why make a game of it? Games call for empathy and detailed observation, qualities that can be tested and then applied to influence the planning and design process. Do you have to be on Rye Lane to play? The games run on the open source platform, 7scenes, which allows people to script their own location-based, urban narratives for anyone to freely download and play on an iPhone, iPad or Android. These are GPS-based games, so you must be on Rye Lane to play! Learn more at playbeforeplan.tumblr.com
Welcome to Peckham! You have recently immigrated to the UK from Afghanistan. With assistance from the Refugee Council, you can rent a room in a shared flat off Rye Lane. Your legal status permits you to work 20/ hours a week and you plan to use ÂŁ500 of your savings to start your own business. You have already visited the One Stop Shop at the Peckham Library to learn about support programmes for minority businesses. Now you want to walk the street and see for yourself what kinds of opportunities there are for you to open a market stall on the street or a mini-shop within a larger store.
Are you ready to find out what you can add to the mix?
background Since the 1860s, Rye Lane has been a bustling shopping street, where newcomers like you opened shops and department stores that attracted shoppers from all over London. At the turn of the 19th century, Rye Lane earned the nickname the ‘Golden Mile,’ as one of the City’s most popular shopping rows. Recovering from post-war damage and receiving a wave of immigrants from the New Commonwealth countries, the demographics of the neighborhood shifted dramatically. By the 1980s and 90s, the big department stores and supermarkets like Marks & Spencers, Sainsbury’s, C&A and Jones & Higgins close, and were replaced with new bargain bazaars and smaller scale specialty markets. This is where you enter the scene.
As the UK now faces a double recession, Rye Lane has showed remarkable resiliency. The current vacancy rate on Rye Lane is 10% - well below the 16% average of UK high streets. Rye Lane has also avoided the ‘clone town’ epidemic of big chains dominating the high street. 65% of shops here are independents and one third of these are subdivided into multiple businesses - that means 1 shop is partitioned and subletted to accommodate 2,3 and sometimes 8 different businesses! This is a win-win situation for business owners and buyers. Leaseholders are able to cover their rent, newcomers like you have more opportunities to start microbusinesses with less capital and less risk, and shoppers save time as they buy fish and phones under one roof.
‘Anytime. Every day.’
Slogan and detail of a phonecard advertisement on Rye Lane.
Your Challenge Build a new life on Rye Lane by learning about local business opportunities. You will have up to 2 hours to visit 12 locations and identify a business you want to test on Rye Lane. On the way, you will find a place to live, a safe way to send money to your family in Afghanistan, and several places to buy a cheap mobile phone and calling plan - you will need a mobile to apply for a trading license from Southwark Council and in general to live your life!
instructions Can I really start a business with ÂŁ500? You will discover pay-as-you-go, microincubation opportunities that allow you to grow your own business with minimal overhead costs and long-term commitments. Tour Rye Lane in any order you like. Once you finish exploring, head to the 4th floor of the Peckham library, where you can use a computer, read books or listen to jazz. (There's also a great view of the Shard). The 2nd floor of McDonald's is also a good escape - it has a well-kept restroom, free WIFI and a nice view of street trade along Rye Lane.
7scenes.com/scene/2039196/Arrivalocity
arrivalocity suggested budget Room Rent = £75/week (paid by Refugee Council) Mobile Phone, SIM, Calling Card = £30 Street Stall Rent = £ _ _ /day Market Stall Rent = £ _ _ _ /week Store Kiosk Rent = £ _ _ _ /week Laptop Rental = £ _ . _ _ /week Sending Money Home = £ _ . _ _
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arrivalocity Wallet = £500
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arrivalocity LOCATIONS Just Browsing: Peckham Library, #122 Peckham Hill Street Couch, Corset, Computer, Aylesham Centre Fish & Phones, #90-92 Fowl & Phones, #133 Shopping Street!, #76 Game On: Carphone Warehouse, #48 [10 points] Find a Home, #200 [10 points] Money Business, #138 [10 points] Rye Lane Market, #48 [10 points] S’ Mini Department Store, #82 [10 points] Send Money Home #138 [20 points] Street Market, intersection with Atwell Road [20 points] (all address numbers are on Rye Lane, with the exception of the library)
score levels
locations 12
1
2
3 4 5
6 7 8,9 10 11
1. Carphone Warehouse
2. Aylesham Centre
2. Aylesham Centre (cont.)
2. Aylesham Centre (cont.)
2. Aylesham Centre (cont.)
3. Rye Lane Market
3. Rye Lane Market (cont.)
3. Rye Lane Market (cont.)
3. Rye Lane Market (cont.)
3. Rye Lane Market (cont.)
4. McDonald’s
5. S’ Mini Department Store
5. S’ Mini Department Store cont.
5. S’ Mini Department Store cont.
6. Fowl & Phones
7. Fish & Phones
8,9. Wentern Union
10. Street Market
10. Street Market (cont.)
11. Lettings
12. Last Stop! Peckham Library
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This project was supported by 7scenes. 7scenes is a storytelling platform for GPS tours and games. Connect your story to the city! www.7scenes.com @7scenes.