R - E - B

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Observation 10

Tuesday - March 29th - 1600-1700

Cold and dry

Hopefully on this visit i shall see something more interesting. The last couple visits have been rather boring, no new characteristics. 

Half an hour into this visit, nothing new was happening, just the same old, cyclists, runners dog walkers and friends. 

As the area was reasonably quiet i really had time to think and visualize my design fiction. I couldn’t stop thinking about what the woman said who was walking her dog.  “Oh, this rusty fence here, it’s so out of character compared to the rest of the area. Also the area behind it, dirt and stones, it’s just out of place.”  Thinking about it, would my design fiction complement or disrupt existing behaviour? My aim would be to complement the area. I personally really like this area, and more importantly, i think the majority of the people come here as it takes away the big city feel. By complimenting the area I would either take peoples eye away from the dirt field by distracting them or by simply covering it up.

It was at this point, having sat here for just over an hour, that this would be my last observation. I feel i know the area very well and have a great aspect of how this public space is used. 

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Obs. 9 

How the bottom of the canal would look during a summers day. 

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Observation 9

Wednesday - March 23rd - 1700-1800

Mild, sun setting

A group of lads sitting outside Badabing having a cig and a pint, causing a fair old row, obviously been on the sauce for a number of hours.

Busy with people commuting home from work, a lot of guys in suits.

I thought to myself how nice this area would be in summer. People actually the canal for boating and paddling. Families walking, a possible picnic walk.  The pubs outdoor seating would be used on sunny days, the full area would really come to life. 

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Coursework 2 Phase 2 - Views of Edinburgh

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Coursework Part 2 Phase 1 - Symphony of Edinburgh

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Observation 8

Tuesday - March 15th - 1400-1500

Dry and mild

Minutes into the 8th observation. A dog, raring to get off the lead, no doubt in its mind where it was going to go, straight in the water, the owner, not even phased, this must a regular occurrence. The golden retriever swam alongside the owner. The older lady, barely even taking a notice whilst on her phone. The dog kept paddling for a while longer until it leaped out the water from a step.  

I didn’t know what i found more surprising, the dog swimming in the canal or the owner barely reacting to it. i was cold just watching it. 

As nothing new was happening I began to notice the vast amount of cyclists and runners there were. Regardless of the day or the time, there is always people running/cycling to keep fir or simply cycling to get from ‘A’ to ‘B’ or for pleasure. 

I think a design fiction that adds a little excitement or motivation to your journey along the canal. This would be ideal.

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Observation 7

Monday - March 7th - 1030am-1200pm 6 degrees Celsius, calm, slightly misty

Just before this observation I walked around the other side of the derelict land to see if there was any sign as to what this area would be used for. I saw sign that informed about new offices being built. New modern day offices with a nice garden would definitely be a more appealing view. But how long would it be until these offices are built?

Again, the majority of the people using this area are just simply commuting.

I managed to interview a passing runner this morning. Easier than normal because this area was his finishing point, he would walk along part of the canal as a cool down.

I asked him simply why he’s running here, why not anywhere else? His response “I like this area as it is a lot quieter than everywhere else in Edinburgh, there’s no traffic, it’s peaceful.” He then added “I come here once a week, it’s different to everywhere else in the city, the scenery, the water being there, the canal itself, the boats, the cobble street, it’s like an old fashioned touch. After a run, being able to walk along the canal gives your mind and your body a natural cool down. There’s really no where like this.”

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Observation 6

Saturday - 5th of March - 1100-1200

Sunny 

Interview of a woman walking her dog.  

Why do you walk this way with your dog?

Her response “Walking along this way gives a nice loop, from here, I walk along to the crossing up a street or two and back along towards Tollcross.” It’s a nicer view than walking along streets of buildings. Especially on a sunny day like today.”

Are there any negatives to this area, if so what are they?

She pondered for a few seconds, struggling of something to say. Looking around for something she then sprung to an idea. “oh, this rusty fence here, it’s out of character compared to the rest of the area. Also the area behind it, dirt and stones, it’s just out of place. Also I would like more lights at night, it can become very dark in certain areas, I normally just stick to walking along the lit streets at night for that reason.”

I thought at the end of this observation or before my next, i would walk around the other side of this fenced area to see if there was any signs to see if this area was up for sale or if there was any plan for buildings etc. 

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Observation 5

Tuesday - February 23rd - 2145-2245

Dry, dark and cold

Very quiet, possibly due to lightening at this late of night.  People don’t feel safe or don’t have a reason to be outside at this time.  A lot more people on the road running parallel to the canal.  Three boys meeting for a cig and heading. 

About fifteen minutes into this visit i received a text from a friend, telling me to look out for Jupiter tonight. I looked up into the sky and there it was, right next to the moon, clear as day. 

My first Interview was with skateboarder whom I managed to talk to for a while. I asked him why would you choose this area to skateboard? His reply, “Because it’s quiet at night, I don’t get bothered by anyone when smoking a joint. I’m not conscious about trying new tricks and failing as there’s not many people watching me. Although, I sometimes get paranoid using this area in case in lose my board in the canal, fortunately this hasn’t happened yet. Nice low bench to grind on my board and the curb height is perfect to do tricks off. Also, when I pass by during a nice day, the scenery with the still water, ace reflection of the boats!” If you could, what improvements would you make? “I would change the surface next to the canal, I would make it smooth instead of these cobbles, meaning I could skate along the canal”.

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Obs. 5 - A snap I managed to get of a skateboarder

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Obs.5 - Our moon and Jupiter on the left

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Observation 4

Thursday - 18th of February - 0930-1030

Blue sky

About 50 meters along the canal from my chosen spot I noticed an open area that has been improved. This area was improved by adding very simple outdoor gym. This is made up from static gym bars for body weight exercises, pull up, dips etc. This is a great idea as it is free for the public, cheap to manufacture and encourages people to be healthy.

Also, next to the outdoor gym there is an arrangement of crafted metal poles, at first glance I thought it was a climbing frame for children. It turns out it is just to make the area look more pleasant. Very unique and catches people’s eye who are walking along the canal.

At this point during the end of observation 4, i remembered I would interview people who use this are on a regular basis. Thinking about who I would interview, I thought it would be ideal to talk to the regulars. A dog walker and a runner were my aim.

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Obs.3 - The fisherman at work.

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Obs.3 

Black swans are shown in the first photo, a simple idea that improves open space. The second photo is essentially an art gallery, I thought this was very colourful and it takes your eye of the black, rotting wood.

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Obs.3 - Showing the contrast of the two sides of the canal.

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Obs.4 - The simple black structure.

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Obs.4 - The outdoor gym.