citylikeyou — Southbank — London by Daniel Ginns

London / Area

Southbank has organically evolved into a place of cultural significance through the persistent creative use of skateboarders spanning over generations. Southbank is currently under threat of being destroyed and replaced by coffee shops and retail outlets. There has been an alternative skate spot preposed to be built under Hungerford Bridge, this at first glance seems like an appropriate solution. Unfortunately this undermines the grassroots movement that has been developed over the years. Skateboarders have utilised the unsuspecting angles of brutalist architecture in a way they were originally not intended, in doing so they have created a space that is special and unreplicable. You can help save this historic place by signing the petition.

Address
Southbank, The Undercroft, Southbank Centre, SE1, London, United Kingdom

Photographer

Current city: London

danielginns.com

Daniel originally from Portsmouth moved to London just over 3 years ago. He works in a variety of mediums. His recent work consist of setting up structures for drawing that encourage chance to determine the form, this excludes him from making any aesthetic decision. By using this conceptual logic he creates a system in which a process is started, continued for an undetermined amount of time, then finally stopped by the rule that birthed it. This thinking is also expressed in his photography which depict the unintentionally created forms of various other processes.

More Places in London 471

London / Art Centre

I worked at the Barbican for several years and during that time became very fond of its architecture. One of my favourite spaces within the centre is the conservatory, a giant tropical garden in the middle of a concrete city.

London / Cafe

Nice coffee around Soho. Very good vibes and nice space.

London / Restaurant

Lots of traditional charming country pubs around the area, but it can a bit hit and miss. A really friendly one with amazing food (and a unusually large veggie selection…) is the Beehive in Epping Green; close to the Great Wood. It's friendly enough you dare going there by yourself with the paper and are not at the mercy of local rubbernecks ("the rubberneck" = person who stares at strangers without any sign of guilt)

London / Cinema

One or two screenings a day, a few days a week; less is more at Close Up. The library is a great resource too, for work or pleasure.

London / Transport

Aside from the fact of the underground being the oldest running railway system in the world, I find the underground just an incredibly strange place. Sometimes it’s like I’ve entered an organised maze and just walk without even thinking. The photo is taken of the floor from one of the trains, it’s normally what you tend you look at when you’re on the train.