CREATIVE SOLUTIONS > TRANSFORMATIONS

TRANSFORMATIONS
LANSDOWNE ESTATE, SHARROW, SHEFFIELD
July – August 2003

As part of Encounters at Lansdowne we wanted to raise awareness about the use of some of the communal spaces on the estate and pilot a joint project with the University of Sheffield School of Architecture, who are interested in developing future partnerships with artists and communities. 

We decided to playfully transform a space and highlight other more innovative uses. During our time of walking around the estate we had noticed that many young people congregate on the balconies where the rubbish shoots are. Some used the walls as climbing walls, others as a sheltered place to gather. We also noticed that the drying areas dotted around, most of which are no longer used to dry washing, have become derelict eyesores. We decided to focus on a balcony overlooking one of these drying areas on the outer edges of the estate near the Leverton Flats. 

The university team made a scale model of this area and as they were constructing it decided to cover it with cake icing to bring a uniformity and new way of looking at the shape and space. From this they decided to physically ice and decorate some of the features of the balcony and drying areas. Railings, windows, floor, poles were transformed into a cheerful playful space over the course of an afternoon. Whilst this activity was going on the encounters team asked people who passed by for their thoughts about the communal spaces and activities on the estate.

A notion developed about importance of architects, artists, landscapers and housing working together imaginatively with residents to involve them in environmental improvements and developments on the estate. Overall the project helped to raise awareness about using art to improve the physical environment.