[Last modified: November, 19 2024 08:17 PM]
I have generally noticed my perception of my body in London to be smaller, less important than where I am from (Vienna). Though Vienna is also a city, it seems London is always bustling and everybody has a purpose and a place they need to get to. This is where the “top” people of their field gather, a historically grown global and imperial center. Coal Drops Yard seems to me one of the high-tech, silicon valley places in London that also have a very futuristic design. When walking through this space in the mornings I feel anonymous and small, yet I don’t mean this in a bad way. It makes me put my existence into perspective and relativise my problems, because this is where the big stuff happens. It’s also very normal to walk through this space in a very high pace because everybody is trying to not be late for work, I guess. An interesting thing about Coal Drops Yard is also, that although it is a completely redeveloped space which can often have a very constructed and hostile feel to it, CDY did a good job in making it a space for the people. If you move closer to the canal and where the cafes and restaurants are, people (including me) seem to enjoy hanging out on the deck and the benches. Rush hour at CDY made me more aware of my individual body morphing with the others in a stream of rushed people.