Topic 5 - Interdisciplinary Practice - Activity

How are why does your practice relate to a particular discipline?

My photographic practice has similarities to the geographical planning and reviews completed as part of council’s self-assessment of the areas that they control. I have been reading the ‘Reading – Historic Area Assessment, Reading HAA – February 2023.’ A 226-page document on the historic environment, its character and heritage assets in the town. This text, statistical and image-based approach to reviewing the town helps me highlight areas that could be good or valuable to photograph.

What I find most interesting about the publication is that each section of the town is broken down and the buildings are assigned based on their ‘…Relative Contributions to Character’.

These do not consider how people in the town feel about the buildings that are being categorised, but the opinion of the company doing the study for the council, with the view to future development/redevelopment.

-       How does this link to my practice?

I want to connect with people to understand their perception and opinions on Reading, what if one of their favourite buildings was designated as a ‘detracting contributor’?

Is this study based on what is popular within town planning and development? What about what is unique to Reading?

-       JACKSON, Sam, Charles WAGNER and Mary NEALE. 2023. Reading - Historic Area Assessment. Reading Borough Council. Abingdon: Built Heritage Consultancy. Available at: https://images.reading.gov.uk/2023/05/Reading-HSHAZ-Historic-Area-Assessment-2022-Approved-27.2.23.pdf [accessed 24 Oct 2023].