Merchant City installation ropes in 1,500 participants
July 30 2013
A giant cargo net, centrepiece of the Merchant City Festival, has been clambered over by 1,500 pairs of fleet footed visitors during the three day city centre event, the organisers have announced.Less dexterous visitors were able to appreciate the multi-coloured web from the safety of the pavement amidst the decaying husk of the former Goldbergs department store.
Overseen by Icecream architecture on behalf of Glasgow Life the Rope Factory took 20 people 6 weeks to fashion.
Banishing thoughts that the scheme was merely money for old rope the team are now in discussions over whether to install the work on a repeating basis throughout the next year as the Commonwealth Games approach.
Photography by Sean Gaule.
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4 Comments
#1 Posted by FuddyDuddy on 31 Jul 2013 at 22:11 PM
I hate to be negative, but non-practices doing 'projects' like this are really starting to grate. If this is architecture then every playground in Scotland should be on the Stirling Prize shortlist.
#2 Posted by Ewan Anderson on 1 Aug 2013 at 10:18 AM
FuddyDuddy - You are being negative. It just seems to be an excellent initiative to use dormant sites to encourage more activity in the city centre, particularly, for kids and families, to fight against the pull of out of town shopping. I don't think anyone is saying it is architecture. It's posted on "Urban Realm" after all.
#3 Posted by Lee Ivett on 1 Aug 2013 at 10:45 AM
Ewan's right FuddyDuddy, it's okay to be critical but at least apply some thought, reason and intellect to your argument. Your comment makes you sound even worse than negative; it make you sound stupid and petty. As Ewan mentions, there is no claim that this piece of work is architecture. I would also really welcome seeing a playground on the Stirling Prize shortlist; as long as it was an original, creative response that re-imagined a previously problematic and redundant urban space; bringing life colour and activity. Which is what this piece of work, whether defined as art, installation, equipment, architecture etc. aims to do. The designers should also be applauded for developing a project that has engaged the public in it's development and creation as well as after its application.
#4 Posted by FuddyDuddy on 1 Aug 2013 at 18:08 PM
They should be applauded for putting up standard cargo netting? Jesus your bar is low. It engaged the public because children climbed on it? If that's the case Glasgow City Council engage the public every time they put up a fence.
Usually the negative comments on here irritate me, as they are overly-negative for no good reason. This story just grated with me as it's a non-project, and it irritates me that something like this is considered news-worthy.
You guys can get excited over it if you want. I just don't see any reason to, or creativity whatsoever. This practice is popular at the moment (whether rightly or wrongly), otherwise this would get no press at all.
Usually the negative comments on here irritate me, as they are overly-negative for no good reason. This story just grated with me as it's a non-project, and it irritates me that something like this is considered news-worthy.
You guys can get excited over it if you want. I just don't see any reason to, or creativity whatsoever. This practice is popular at the moment (whether rightly or wrongly), otherwise this would get no press at all.
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