1. Introduction Above is the journey through Portsmouth we are set to analyse.
2. Morphological Dimension
This inverted figure ground plan shows the morphological nature of our route. You can clearly understand the density and the mass of the buildings. It is interesting to observe the density and scale of the buildings that increase towards the public buildings and commercial honey-pots (like Gunwarf Quays) and then decrease substantially when you reach the residential areas of the city, such as the second part of the route. They then increase again as we reach the end of the journey when we find University buildings (Eldon Building and halls of residence, Trafalgar Hall) as the density of population also increases and the road they overlook becomes a major artery of Portsmouth (Winston Churchill Avenue).
3. Social Economic Status and Regeneration
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In contrast, the University seems to be a good solution for regeneration. Placing university buildings in areas which lack social/economical strength and blending them in seem to be bringing regeneration to the area. The university attracts a large number of students, which all need to live. Eating, drinking, buying clothes, buying materials, rent…. All this brings a huge amount of money to the area and with that comes social/economical growth and regeneration. Also, there aren’t only the students, but there’s the staff which also brings wealth and ultimately, as the university grows, more and more staff is required (both professors but also auxiliary staff, such as cleaners, technicians, office workers …) and therefore more work becomes available for the local community, which further increases their personal social/economical status. This social economical wealth is present around the University campus and the immediate surroundings, and it is also visible year after year, when more and more building sites appear and the city seems to regenerate itself and grow in wealth. Old shops are replaced by new ones and rundown buildings are restored or demolished to make space for new accommodation or office buildings of a higher quality than the previous.
Tourism also increases social/economical welfare and increases regeneration, and in this particular time in the history of Portsmouth, when the navy is slowly moving out and as a result the dockyard area is slowly imploding, tourism seems to be a good solution to saving the area. The navy provides the answer, in fact, the extensive naval history of this city is being harvested to bring regeneration and wealth to the area. The Historic Dockyard is a gem of regeneration as it attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the nation and the world each month. Its blend of historic naval vessels (such as Lord Nelson’s famous H.M.S Victory) and modern attractions (like the Action Station) provides attractions for all, as the extensive naval history of Portsmouth can be lived and witnessed. It brings tourists to the area, and with tourism comes money, and with money comes regeneration. This regeneration can be witnessed in the amount of new buildings which are being built around this once decadent and very navy-orientated area of Portsmouth.
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Dockyard 1220 – William of Wrotham (Archdeacon of Taunton and Keeper of the Kings Ships) started construction of the first docks in Portsmouth
Dockyard 1490 – Henry VII began construction on the dry dock, which is still in use today. It is the oldest used dock in the world
1380 – Following five attacks from the French over 50 years, the first fortifications were built – a ditch, earth rampart and wooden stockades
1490 – 1527 – Henry VII provided further fortification to the city walls, lengthening the fortifications to include [Old] Portsmouth
1667 – 1685 – The earth bank and fortification were slowly replaced. New walls were built with stone ravelins and bastions. Two moats were dug outside the walls, separated by a thin strip of land
1860 – 1868 – The now obsolete city walls were demolished. The only records of their existence are in historical maps
Southsea 1809 – Southsea suburb started to be built to house the skilled workers
1818-1822 – Construction of the canal across the island to Milton, to ease the transportation of trade in the area
1831 – Horse drawn tram started services in 1831
1922 – Portsmouth’s first council housing built on Curzon Howe Road
Somerstown 1820 – 1880 – Housing in Somerstown began to be built in 1820. By 1880 it had spread as far as Fawcett Road and Laurence Road
1955 – parts of Old Portsmouth were rebuilt after World War II as part of the city slum clearance scheme
Somerstown - 1960 – 1970 – A large section of housing in the north of Somerstown was rebuilt between 1960 – 1970, as part of the city slum clearance scheme
5. Building Typologies and Recreational Areas
Above you can see the diversity in building typologies one encounters along the journey. It is interesting to observe that the building typologies appear in clusters and don't seem to blend with one another. There are clearly defined residential areas which are kept clearly seperated from the leasure centres and the Naval sections of the town.
Below, a map of the green areas/recreational areas which the route touches upon.
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