Robert Weaver, A pedestrian view, the Vogelman diary, 1982

'A pedestrian view is full of metaphor. Celebrated 18th century flaneur, Edward Cave always signed himself as 'Sylvanns Urban', - 'the urban jungle' in his work for 'The Gentleman's magazine'.Multiple stories are told through the equal partnership of text/image/text. 

Image: Robert Weaver, A pedestrian view, 1982. The Robert Weaver Estate

"the casual eradication of distinctive places and the deliberate making of standardized landscapes and the weakening of the identity of places to the point where they both look alike and offer the same bland possibilities for experience"

E. Relph

Monthly archives January 2016: http://www.placeness.com/2016/01/

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Old Abu Dhabi

"The emphasis on courtyard in Islamic architecture gave it the name of the "architecture of the veil', because it focuses on the inner spaces (courtyards and rooms) which are not visible from the outside. Courtyard housing is an architectural device with a long history first appearing in the buildings of Syria and Iraq three millennia ago. Arab nomads first made use of the concept of a courtyard during their travels and stay in the desert.They set up their tents around a central space, which provided shelter and security to their cattle."

Mahmoud Zein Alabidin
Image: Old Abu Dhabi ​http://www.abudhabi2.com/history/
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I am going to use this space for anything I find interesting whilst researching my major project. 

 I thought the biggest challenge would be that I can't take photos, but it's not, it's the heat, 38 degrees and the shadows move fast. I noticed the interesting stuff going on either side, whilst drawing -you can't see it. Perhaps I do several drawings at once and have a sketchbook for 'snapshots'? I do think it's nice to know there's life just outside the frame.

The Flatbread man, just out of the picture. 

Lots of questions
How are spaces documented?
What is the difference between space and place?
What information do I want to record? 
What are the methodologies to use?
Will the experience of drawing dictate the methodology?
Why choose Abu Dhabi as a subject?
What is the aim of this project?
How will it be realised?​
Who is it for?
What use will it be?
​How to begin?


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