OUGD505 - Leeds Public Spaces - Initial Research

Public Space: A public space is a social space that is generally open and accessible to people of all levels of S.C. Roads (including the pavement), public squares, parks and beaches are typically considered public space.

LEEDS

Contextual Research

LeedsList:

• Loidis is the name of ancient Leeds and was first mentioned in Anglo-Saxon times

• The late sixteenth and seventeenth century saw the huge rise of Leeds’ cloth trade, specialising in ‘Northern Dozens’ or ‘Yorkshire Breadcloths’ that were cheap and good quality, further propelling Leeds into a market town.

• The cloth trade grew further, with different cloths coming in from it surrounding areas, before being traded in grand cloth halls (from which many Leeds buildings take their name) and exported to Holland and Germany.

• In 1903, Leeds used to have an underground subway however it didn't catch on. Throughout the 20th century, there were proposals and plans put forward that would see an underground system stretch from Roundhay to Hunslet, but it all just remained an idea. Instead, it is used for housing sewers, water mains, gas pipes, electricity and telephone cables.

LeedsList has encouraged has provided me with some initial context to Leeds and I have already discovered an area that I can research into:

• Cloth Trade - Put Leeds on the map and inspired the names for buildings

LeedsList

'50 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Leeds'

Joseph Sheerin

Leeds is home to the UK’s last gas lit cinema - Hyde Park Picture House

• Opened in 1914 and is still very much in use today. 
• Grade II listed building
• Showing independent and blockbuster films
• Original decor and architecture still there
• Single screen

Leeds.gov 

Provide a map, highlighting the public realm and public space in Leeds City Centre:

• Parks and gardens
• Provision for children
• Amenity greenspace
• Outdoor Sports Facilities
• Green Corridors
• Civic Areas
• Civic Routes
• Market Areas
• Temporary Spaces

Terminology:

Amenity: A desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place.

Civic: Relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal.