This picture was taken whilst being chauffeured along Nelson Street, Port of Spain. This is an abandoned building on the corner of Cockerton Street; the shortest street in the city. I actually thought it was a housing unit for a family but it is and abandoned bar or business place. It may offer some refuge to the socially displaced in this urban space. This area in the city is usually forgotten as urban planners seem to concentrate their development in the heart of the city, that is Charlotte Street, westward. These buildings are not of highest priority to be conserved or rejuvenated. Hall and Barrett, 2012 suggests that there is a widespread desire to preserve particular monuments or buildings and this was driven by wealthy educated elites; who do not live or visit these areas but reside west of this region. So, it is not abnormal to see buildings in these areas left as derelict or abandoned with no hope of being upgraded.
The video above is from a group called Urban Decay, the song is entitled Still Here. this video was uploaded from YouTube. I find the lyrics fit for the introduction of the topic of Urban Decay: "I'm still here in a realm of time and space, I'm like air that's baked in a cake." The background of the video has stunning images of urban decay and to me it does not seem chaotic, ugly or negative. There is a beauty to these images and it suggests that no matter what temporal or spatial scales exist urban decay is eminent and will continue to exist.
Super photo!
ReplyDeleteAre you saying that the elites west in the city want this building this way? You may need to break down the reference from the text and offer a clearer analysis of this space for your readers.
Great links. -- I'm glad you didn't just post the link, but you told us what to expect and how it ties into your post!
No I'm actually saying that no one West of here cares about this dilapidating building. They don't even come on these streets. So they don't know it exists. People generally think in these streets are the "ghetto" and to avoid at all cost.
DeleteIt's actually ironical because it seems that the residents here may want to preserve it. I'm guessing if it stands here looking like this for so long and the city is always developing then the government and elites want it this way.
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