Rural downland museum: experience and critique

Tuesday was a day spent in fine weather, following my own advice for focus week. Having already visited the three other long barrows in Kent (see post before this one), I spent the day visiting the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum.

It was not as informative on traditional woodland management practices as I had hoped, although it seemed that there were special days when singular skills and traditional practices were taught by historians and demonstrated, but you had to be there for each of those individual events (@ £8.00 a pop!) and as luck would have it, I wasn't.

Still ,the visit was worthwhile on a number of levels: For one, I was able to see the much talked of Downland Gridshell. This fabulous sinewy building is in effect a shell, which is formed of many pieces of overlapping timber bound into a shape that exists under constant compression and tension. This makes for not only a fabulous shaped piece of architecture, but also a self enforcing structure of extreme strength and longevity. Further to this, timber, unlike other materials, has a natural ability to weather with its surroundings meaning that it is already seamlessly a part of the landscape. And yet it retains on the interior, the beauty and warmth that timber is renowned for. It really is an engineering achievement, but it is not this that you appreciate when you first see it, but rather the sheer scale of the thing. It has to be the largest timber structure that I have ever layed eyes on and this is emphasised by there being no compartmentalisation within the building, leaving a vast open space flooded with natural light, filtered by the beech trees which surround it. It all makes for a wonderful workshop, where it is hoped, Britain's foremost research and restoration of timber buildings will be able to take place.

Overall I hoped more of the place than it was able to offer, but this is not a bad reflection on the museum, as they do not pertain to offer what I sought. Rather it is an observation, that alongside their work on the preservation of ancient timber structures, they could also preserve and teach the traditional wodland crafts that provided and supported the industry of building during the historic periods in which the buildings were erected. To go a step beyond their current practice, an increase in the times available for vistors to observe and/or take part in these traditions would be only to their credit, and when these events are not taking place, some literature available from the shop and some information plaques around the site with visual examples akin to what they have for the buildings, would all be worthy additions.

Beyond this experience, it was a great family afternoon, and I picked up a fantastic bargain on a beautiful Eco homes book. Oh, and Ash got a toy tractor :)

Reforging english countryside: ethnic inclusion

I have become increasingly interested in what I have heard of a project in the Lake District, where Authorities are attempting to change their systems so as to encourage more ethnic minority groups to visit. My initial reaction was that, surely the simple reason that they weren't visiting was because of their ethnic differences. In other words, they come from different backgrounds and grew up in different surroundings so they naturaly prefer their home landscapes to those offered in England. I have spoken to many Asians and heard of their ardent fervour for the landscape of their home lands. In India, I received the impression that there is a much higher percentage of rural living than in England, so this would also explain why they are not used to traveling any distance in order to appreciate their surroundings.

Having said all that I was pleasantly surprised to read the accounts written by people experiencing ethnic groups enjoyment of the Lake District and various other locations across England, during experiments carried out by the Mosaic Partnership.
It appears that these visitors greatly enjoyed their time in the English countryside and were encouraged by the freindship and hospitality that they found there.

However, while this project appears to be very successful, it is a shame that this success is not the driving factor in the actions to promote ethnic inclusion that are being undertaken by the authorities. It seemed that whilst they valued these experiments highly, they still considered it the best response, to shut down the current operating tourist guide systems and walks, in favour of creating a new system with an indefinate deadline. Naturaly there was huge uproar at this irresponsible decision and a "mystery sponsor came forward and pledged £38,000 to save the walks for the current year. This cash will provide "breathing space" so that more research can be done on attracting other groups, especially from ethnic minorities, into the area."

What was in some ways worse, is that they gave the reasoning for their decision, not as being the pressure they have received from the government to make financial cut-backs, but as being that the current facilities are aimed at the white middle classes. they are never going to solve any issues if they continue to include one ethnic group at the cost of another. Rather, they need to develop it to include both groups, and not issue exclusive rude statements like this: "Our open spaces should not be the preserve of just the Gore-Tex-clad, Volvo-driving middle classes"

It appears that the most definite conclusion to the experiments, is that in order to attract these groups, authorities must act to introduce them to these places and not just shut down all facilities, throw out some advertisements and hope they'll show up!

As beautiful as our countryside is, it is a real shame that our governing bodies are never quite up to the task of taking due responsibility for it. With the looming arrival of the Olympics in our fair country, one would think that preserving and expanding the tourism industry in one of our most famous natural landscapes would be paramount, and that their response to the given research would not be so narrow minded. The research says that ethnic minorities like the Lakes, so let's help them get the opportunity to like it some more, not close it down because they like it, but we dont know what to do about it!

Free of the national power grid? : A critique

An entirely new concept to me, I heard of this at the recent LI Conference. Apparently, there are a rapidly increasing number of people, who in an effort to better their environment and act in a truly responsible manner, are disconnecting their homes from the state power supply. This is either manifesting itself in, the conversion of an already enstated building, or a new build. Interestingly, the latter include a small minority, who are not only building new houses, but also without planning permission and in secret on virgin soil. The argument they give is that, whenever an application is made, the borough refuses it. So it is better to build first, start living green and then after a certain length of time has passed, if they remain undiscovered then they have a right to remain. They obviously feel strongly enough about this to do it despite the law, however, I cant help but wonder how sustainable this really is, to leave your home, rather than converting it and then to build a new home on a green field site often in green belt land, (as it is here that they can most easily hide). Surely the more sustainable option, is a conversion, not just sustainable in terms of the environment but also in terms of social responsibility. A great idea to live off the grid, but what better way to do it, than by proving to your average homeowner that it is both possible and worth while. Hiding away in the country sets no such example to the public, but rather exemplifies green living as an unnatainable myth.

http://www.off-grid.net/ http://www.blogger.com/www.offthegrid.com http://www.wikipedia.com/

The science of prediction

I attended an afternoon lecture by Future Lab on Tuesday, which was lead by an extremely enthusiastic speaker, who spoke in a convincing manner and told us exactly who we were, what we want in life, what our fears are and what the contents of our fridges reveal about us! (On average!) He did, however, also have a lot to say about how the consumer's tendancies are being addressed by the providers and what their motivation is, which whilst not being wholy Landscape specific, did give us some valuable insight into our roles for the future and how they are likely to be developing. It was also interesting to know that the predictions are an increase in the consumer wanting not just to experience what you are offering, but also who you are, so that there confidance is no longer based just on what they see, but also what they know of its background, and your motivations. People, apparently, want to put there trust in us! What a responsibility. That means it#s no longer about just making sure that someone isn't going to trip on your hardpaving, but also that when they trip, they're not going to land on imported sandstone hewn from rockfaces by Indian children, and discover that they were transported here in the boot of a guzzling old Transit. Instead they (the public) want to found their belief of correct attitude and decency in the DESIGNER, who created this wonderful thing and must therefore know what's best! FASCINATING!