Walkscapes
The act of walking is to the urban system what the speech act is to language or to the statements uttered. (Certeau, M. and Rendall, S.). 46
The language of our paths through space alters their function and meaning throughout time, much like speech. After the Great Fire of London in 1666 we had the opportunity to create a more functional city space with Christopher Wrens modular vision of the future of London. However, for the ‘common people’ the homogenous growth of Londons street systems were their life blood, and the city rebuilt itself from its smouldering roots up. It seems a very English tradition to keep the history of our streets and be moulded in turn by ancient desire lines. Much of England today is still based on old Roman roads, take Shooters Hill road (A2) in South East London, an ancient Celtic highway, paved over by the Romans in 400s AD. A city moulded by rivers, yet cast by the roads.
