INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW ON SITEE

Considering that I cannot get into the buildings, the best method is approaching people who live there. This can help me understand the current situation and the problems that social tenants are facing.

To do the survey, I walked around the area with questions on my notebook, trying to smile before speaking to them. Surprisingly, most residents are friendly, I collected responses from about fifteen to twenty in different age groups, asking their advantage and disadvantage of Brandon Estate, the ideal community and what word they would use to describe the site.

There is an old man who lived next door and suggested me to visit Paul, the owner of the local pub, called ‘Canterbury Arms’. He said ‘tells him Tom sent you there!’ I then ran into the pub, few old men sat in the bar, they were all looking at me as it is strange that an Asian girl shows up in the pub with her assignment.

I was being told that Pual had a day-off but the assistants told everyone I was doing survey for school. Unfortunately, they are not the residents but told me it is a social housing with a bad reputation and kept saying ‘terrible!’.

OVERALL

[PRO] Greenspace Park , Grass Multiculture Unique Architecture Famous for filming

[CON] Crime: gang violence Security: Lack of CCTV building maintenance problems Dirty Lifts & Hallway

CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS

Black Child / Age: 9

What is good about Brandon Estate?

It’s very tall and so big. I like playing in the park here.

Do you think people are close here?

yeh, I have many friends here.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

Huge!! There are many buildings in this community. It’s like....a huge town! Many people live here.

What would you like to have in this estate?

I want a football pitch here so... I can play football with my friends after school.

Black teenager / Age: 19

What is good about Brandon Estate?

I’ve got many friends here. We love the park!

Do you think people are close here? Not really.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

Mixed - multicultural

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

The building outside needs to be clean and the lift sometimes not working. I wish we could have a large youth center for sports and events because more children and teenagers are coming in.

Black girl with curly hair / Age: 28

What is good about Brandon Estate?

We had a huge African community here and a very nice park to share with the community

Do you think people are close here?

No, there are six buildings and many people don’t communicate. Everyone has different opinions.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

Multiculture ? as I said people are from different backgrounds.

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

Safety. The crime rate is high here. Parents are worried about children taking drugs and joining local gangs.

Do you think it is safe here?

umm....yeh maybe. Some people are really bad but I think it’s ok...

What’s your ideal community?

(your dream home) Everything I can play! (Do you mean a huge town for children to play?) Yeh!

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Is this a safe community?

No, there are crime and gangs here. There are drug dealers around here. That’s why I said we need a safe place for the youth. I’ve seen crimes many times!

What’s your ideal community?

A community that could bring peoplem together. More facilities I think.

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Is this a safe community ?

No. Children should have the freedom to play without any worries but there are many gangs and crime here. I’ve seen crimes many times!

What’s your ideal community ?

There are no shops on our ground floor, I hope we could have some so I could get everything downstairs.

Also, some tenants are quite selfish, they would put rubbish in the hallway, which is smelly. I saw rats the other day.

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Black Lady with ponytail / Age: 40

What is good about Brandon Estate? Children can play together in the park.

Do you think people are close here?

Yes.quite close. Well… I have two kids so I love chatting with other Moms.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate? um....Familiarize?

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

The buildings inside are very dirty and the facade need to be clean.

Is this a safe community ?

Not really, crime and gangs are everywhere.

An Indian Lady / Age: 45 What is good about Brandon Estate?

Not good at all.

Do you think people are close here?

No. People who lived here only care about themselves.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

just ‘Bad’

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

The building is too high, I prefer having a lower building. The bell sometimes is not working, imaging asking my disabled 80 year old mother to come down to open the door for me? Dirty - people wee and poo in the elevator, staircase and the hallways.

Is this a safe community ?

No, not safe at all. Too much crime here.

Black man with glasses / Age: 50 What is good about Brandon Estate?

Brandon Estate has been rented out for filming frequently. Even FIFA filmed the ads here.

Do you think people are close here?

No. People are not closed in this country.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

‘Unique’ - Brand Estate is a multicultural estate with lots of grass (parks). It‘s near Oval station so it’s very convenient. The architectural style also looks very different from the others.

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

The facade needs to be refurbished, staircases and corridors are full of rubbish.

What’s your ideal community?

A safe commiunity for parents to raise their children. Giving them opportunities to learn and play without affecting by gang violence. I don’t want my children to think that it is a shame to live in social housing.

“I don’t want my children to think that

it is a shame to live in social housing.”

What’s your ideal community?

A community that is well maintained, people would take care of each other. I also hope it can be close to my work so I can take care of my old mother while working.

May I ask what type of jobs you are doing?

I’m currently working in my friend’s grocery shop and actually, I want to open my own shop but it’s hard for me.

I can see there aren’t many shops in Brandon Estate. If the ground floor can be transformed into many empty spaces with affoRdable rent, would you like to rent a space here? so you can open a corner shop and take care of you mother closely.

Yes,definitely!

That would be a dream, you know.

Is this a safe community ?

Yeh, apart from gang violence. It’s quite safe for me.

What’s your ideal community?

Although Brandon Estate receives a bad reputation, I do love them! so probably a well-known community that everyone would love to come and see rather than avoiding it.

You mentioned about filming, do you think this allows people to change the perception of this estate? Yeh! The movie Dr.Who was also filmed here. It is a way of ‘promote’ this area.

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White Lady walking dogs / Age:50

What is good about Brandon Estate?

Grass! It’s quite rare to have grass / parks between buildings in the city. Nowadays, houses are built next to each other. All buildings are divided by the block walls and fences.

Do you think people are close here?

No, I’ve been living here for more than 15 years. I don’t know anyone here.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

Danger! Brandon Estate has received a notorious reputation. There are so many crimes here. I want to move but I have been waiting for a long time.

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

Mice - I used to live in this building and it was disgusting so I moved to the other one but there are more. Some people wee and poo in lifts and corridors. They just don’t have it in their flats and there’s no CCTV in the blocks so no one knows who did it.

Black lady tidying up her car / Age: 62 What is good about Brandon Estate?

many grass, sharing large park with community

Do you think people are close here?

Yes.

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

Terrible, dirty lift and corridors are full of shit.

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

Having one cleaner for six blocks is totally not enough.

White Old man drinking in the bar / Age: 70 What is good about Brandon Estate?

Nothing !

Do you think people are close here?

No, except us who drink in the pub

What word would you use to describe Brandon Estate?

Dangerous. I got robbed once.

Is there anything you want to change or improve in this community ?

Living on the higher floors is hard for us, the elders when the lift isn’t working. We just had a community meeting last month in our library. Those people from the local council always say there isn’t enough evidences. The problems have never solved.

Crime - Many gangs and violences here. It’s such a dangerous community. I’ve seen it happened many times.

Is this a safe community ?

No.

What is your ideal community ?

A place where people can enjoy walking around safely, bringing people closer. No gang violence - Children are in gangs so we

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do worry about our children.

Is this a safe community ?

well not really.. there are some violence here sometimes

What is your ideal community ?

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A friendly community designed for old people

Is this a safe community ?

Bloody hell ! No. Many crime happene here. No one can solve this problem!

What is your ideal community ?

A safe community with better reputation.