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The SE1 project has started as an editorial module for my postgraduate degree at the University of Westminster and will continue for an extended period. Having the opportunity to work in the same area for a long time intrigued me to keep my project going after the university’s deadline. SE1 covers a large portion of central London south of the River Thames, taking in areas such as the South Bank, Southwark and Bermondsey. The South Bank is a narrow section of riverside development on the banks of the river and is a significant tourist district, stretching from the London Eye in the west to the Design Museum in the east. Known for its strong arts and entertainment connection, the area comprises such facilities as the Southbank Centre, the Royal National Theatre, BFI Southbank, the London Film Museum, the Sea Life London Aquarium and the iconic London Eye. Southwark is an inner city district next to the South Bank and is the home of the City Hall offices. This project does not focus on the area as much as on the people who live there or have a great connection to it. The purpose is to gather people’s stories from different backgrounds and to understand how they define the SE1. Despite the icons we see all the time, we barely look at the people who help building the area, which themselves are some icons. *If you know anyone interested to be part of the project and has any connections to the SE1 area, please feel free to drop me an email* |
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When someone is asked about the most iconic and interesting place to be seen within the SE1, the
answer is the Tate Modern Museum. The Tate Modern Museum beside its beauty and recognition,
from the opening in 2000, it has completely changed the area from a dangerous to one of the safest
area in London.
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It brought a new contemporary touch to the area, therefore the surrounding
architecture have started to complete the story of the SE1 area with the new contemporary
architecture tendencies.
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Aggies, Micky, Jen, Lizzie and Tom have travelled all the way from Bristol to explore new places in London. They prefer to enjoy an outdoor pizza in front of the Tate Modern Museum as it is a calm place for a lunch break and entertaining to listen to street music.
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Visitors at the Tate Modern Museum.
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Julien is originally from France and has been working at the Tate Modern Museum's Shop for almost eight years. His main task is to curate the Magazine Section of the Shop.
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He thinks SE1 is a great area, which has been developed well over the past years. He also mentions that it is also a perfect area for someone looking for a job.
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Mariza is originally from Greece and has been living in UK for the past ten years. She works for both Tate Museums, her favourite being the Tate Modern area, because it is more dynamic.
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She works with the audience from a design perspective and tries her best to capture the audience's experience in order to improve the visitors number.
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Synthia works for the Tate Modern Museum for almost ten years and she knows the area like the
back of her hand. She has witnessed most of the changes around the SE1.
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Her role is curator: regeneration & community partnerships, therefore she works with most of the
communities around the area and tries to understand what the Tate Modern needs to bring in order
to make a better area and great landscape.
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She loves the mixture of old-contemporary buildings and thinks all the new constructions,
especially the Tate Modern Museum has changed the area and became from one of the most
dangerous areas of London to a safe one.
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Stephanie works for both Tate Museums. She moved to London in 2001 and lived in SE1 for ten years.
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She had to move out from the area because it became too expensive for her budget. Despite this, she enjoys working here, as it is a cultural area.
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Christopher has been working for the Tate Modern Museum from its opening. I met him at the Leon, a restaurant just behind the museum, which is his "main studio" for the personal work.
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He mentions that twenty years ago SE1 was considered one of the most dangerous and frightening areas of London. Everything changed after the Tate Modern Museum grand opening in 2000.
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Even he lives in a different area, he considers SE1 his home as it is his main inspiration for his work.
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The River Thames is the longest river in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom.
Thames has a very strong influence on the SE1 area, and the river forms the northern and western
boundaries of the postal area.
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The Riverside Walkway attracts visitors from all over the world and is also a valuable resource
enjoyed by all who live or work in the area.
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Andrew and Fiona Parker think South Bank is a fantastic place to explore on foot. They live just outside London, in the countryside, but they always love to explore the busy London, especially to have walks on the riverside.
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Borough Market is London’s most renowned food market, celebrating this year 1000th-year birthday.
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The florist, Viva, works for the Chez Michele, one of the oldest shops in the market.
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She has an elegant eye
for arranging the flowers and she admits is happy to work in this place as first it is privilege to work in a
such an iconic market and also it makes her happy to see customers from all around the world.
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Beart has been working in the shop for nine months and totally hates his job as he was trained at the LCC to be fashion designer. He hopes for a change.
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It is a source of exceptional British and international produce. What makes Borough Market special it is also about the people and the place.
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John has been a butcher for almost ten years. He loves his job and the atmosphere of the Borough Market.
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Carisa is half English and half Jamaican.
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She has been working with a great pleasure for few months in order to start her degree in dentistry at the Guy's Hospital, which is around the corner.
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Mark has been working in the shop for two years.
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The shop belongs to his family who has been running the business for almost 20 years.
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The market is populated by a community of remarkable individuals from all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
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Street view from the area.
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The Shard, is an 87-storey skyscraper in London that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing approximately 309 metres high, the Shard is currently the tallest building in the European Union. The Shard's construction began in March 2009; it was topped out on 30 March 2012 and inaugurated on 5 July 2012. The tower's privately operated observation deck, The View from The Shard, was opened to the public on 1 February 2013.
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London Glass Blowing opened and established by Peter Layton in 1976. It was among the first hot glass studios in Europe.
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Anthony was vitisiting Peter's studio since was 8 years old.
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He studied architecture and modelling as a degree, but in the end, his interest slightly moved towards the art of glass blowing.
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Helen is originally from Denmark and works during at Peter's studio during the Thursdays.
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Mikala is originally from Copenhagen, Denmark.
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After moving to London, in 2003, she opened her jewellery shop in the heart of London, South Bank at Oxo Tower.
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She mentions, as an artist, South Bank is the best choice for her business as it brings customers and
tourists and at the same time, very inspiring for her work.
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In addition, she lives in the same area, which is a perfect environment for her child, as it is safe and cultural location.
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South Bank area brought together a beautiful friendship between Luca and Emil. They live in the
same neighbourhood and they cannot imagine living in a different area.
What they love the most about this area is the accessibility to different events and places. They
think the South Bank skate park is the best place to build new friendships with children similar to
their age.
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Vladimir, Wesley, Tom and Dimitry work for the London Bicycle Repair Shop in Soutbank, an old
shop dated from 1988.
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Each of them has a story connected to the area, especially Wesley who used
to live in this area ten years ago.
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They admit, SE1 area has changed very much and most of the great shops had to shut down
because of the new supermarkets and companies.
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The industry in SE1 has chanced so much in the past 10 years and everything have become extremely expensive.
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They think it is one of the best areas to get a job, as they never lack of clients.
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