Govan & Gdansk Photo Investigations - Similarities & The Uniqueness of Place

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Preparation, timing. Postproduction.

GOVAN & GDANSK PHOTO INVESTIGATIONS The Uniqueness & Similarities of Place

An inspiring story of both people and place. Govan is very much part of Glasgow; yet it is distinct and psychologically distanced from the city. Subsumed by the city of Glasgow in 1912, a powerful story of protest and strength of character is engrained in its making.

Govan’s independent spirit, and cultural identity are at the centre of efforts to enhance the fortunes and regeneration of the area. Heritage and renewal have been embraced and must be part of the same conversation. However, after years of post-industrial neglect the challenges are complex. Short sighted procurement policies, and planning decisions taken at the expense of local desires, have fuelled social, political, and physical barriers visible in derelict, and contested space.

Govan has survived the recession; BAE systems are still producing ships, and the empowerment of local grassroots initiatives continues to influence regeneration in the area with many voices seeking a shared vision. The challenge is recognising which voices shout loudest, and which need to be listened to most.

PEOPLE & PLACE IN GOVAN With such rich history, the notion of place needs no making here; as with the shipyards in Gdansk it is a given, but sadly an overlooked concept. Despite this, a focus has been placed on identifying assets to attract visitors, storytelling, and the ability of cultural tourism, to help reconnect physically and emotionally with the city. The Central Govan Action Plan has almost completed a 10-year programme of improvements to housing, the public realm, and historic buildings. This holistic approach has been recognized in Govan receiving the 2014 RTPI Silver Jubilee Cup award for planning excellence, whilst social enterprises such as Fablevision continue to drive transformative projects.

Social and economic repair will take time. A bridge across the water would be a further positive action forming a connection to Partick and the West End of the city. The story of land and people at Water Row at the heart of Govan still awaits proper acknowledgement and appropriate development to avoid being led by house builder’s or developer’s projections - ‘the fat man’s wallet’. The vast expansive dry docks; an inspiring potential landscape now threatened by private interests and the removal of the current ecosystem that has taken hold in years of absent activity.

A C K N O W L E D E M E N T O F LO S S A N D W H AT M A D E P L A C E I N G D A N S K

WATER ROW PLANNING INTENTION Glasgow City Council 2015 ‘Water Row is a site from the 2012 Housing Land Supply, which provides for the construction of approximately 100 houses.

It is proposed that 50 houses will be for sale and 50 houses will be affordable. All are expected to contribute to the housing land supply for the plan area.’

GRAVING DOCKS PLANNING INTENTION Glasgow City Council 2015 ‘Govan Graving Docks, is a site from the 2012 Housing Land Supply, which provides for the construction of approximately 800 houses.

It is proposed that 700 houses will be for sale and 100 houses will be affordable. All are expected to contribute to the housing land supply for the plan area.

David Orr - Rathlin Street 1980

Raymond Young - Rathlin Street 1970s

David Orr - Demolition 1970s

David Orr - Harland And Wolff Demolition 73

Raymond Depardon - Taransay Street 1980

Gordon Haws - The Glen Bar

For who does this land belong?

LO S S O F C O N N E C T I O N T O C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E I D E N T I T Y

RE-PRODUCTION

ARTISTS ACTIVISM

C E L E B R AT I O N O F P L A C E

‘DIALOGUE AND CONSULTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY & WITH THE RELEVANT EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE AREA SHOULD BE CENTRAL IN ESTABLISHING POTENTIAL USES FOR THIS SITE AND ENCOURAGING A COMMUNITY LED VISIONING EXERCISE ‘ ‘INTERESTED AND AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS TO COME TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION TO LOOK AT THE IDEA OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST FOR THE WATER ROW PART OF GOVAN ‘ ‘PLANNING NEEDS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AT THE ZONING STAGE & BE MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT RE INVESTIGATIONS INTO PLACE AND HOW THIS IS REINTERPRETED BACK INTO DEVELOPMENT’ ‘PUBLIC SPACE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT FOR - AS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS AND PRIVATE OPEN SPACE LIMIT OUR RIGHTS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH ENVIRONMENT AND OUR PAST.’

W I T H S O M U C H P O S I T I V E A C T I O N , C R E AT I V E A C T I O N , A N D G R A S S R O OT E N E R G I E S , W H AT I S N OT W O R K I N G I N G O VA N ?

W I T H S U C H M A G N I T U D E I N LO S S O F I N D U S T R Y A N D C U LT U R A L H E R I TA G E , THESE PREC ARIOUS ENVIRONMENTS IN GOVAN AND GDANSK STRUGGLE TO REINVENT THEMSELVES. T H E N E E D T H E N B E C O M E S E V E N G R E AT E R TO R E S P O N D TO T H E ‘UNIQUENSS’ OF PLACE TO AVOID THE MONOTONY OF ‘NON PLACE’ BANAL YET TOO OFTEN ACCEPTED FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT .

From Govan to Gdansk.

Solidarity and shipyard revolutions, Mass protests, negotiations and democracy.

Strike victorious ‘A Song For The Daughter’ All Heroes, and a fear of arrest Martial Law for order or harm: Freedom, our right to stand

In the ‘00s women make their mark On life in the shipyard, memory and hope.

Longing for something new.

Tnere’s also the bulldozers who do not notice, and people often never asked.

Our vision loses sight.

So ship yard dreams come true, come back. there must be more than the fat cat’s plan.

A place to breathe, to heal, to see, don’t forget the clink and clank of rusty chains and broken cranes; or flowers growing through the cracks, and grafitti, smoke, fires and stone. .

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