Helen Graham
Alternative Visions: York Tomorrow
The Castle Precinct – a proposal by York Tomorrow Background In the Inspectors report following the 2002 Public Inquiry into the proposed commercial development on the Castle site it was made clear that here was a cultural asset of the highest importance. Both the dominant Clifford’s Tower, the buildings surrounding the “Eye” of York, and … Read more
Alternative Visions: David W. Barratt
Many people in York have been inspired over the years – and in response to the My Castle Gateway project – to develop their own ideas for the Castle Gateway. As the Castle Gateway Masterplan Ideas are open for discussion, in the first of a series of blogs we share Castle Gateway: Alternative Visions. David … Read more
What is a masterplan? A Q&A with Castle Gateway’s lead Masterplanner
As we share the masterplan ideas as part of Step 3 of the My Castle Gateway process, we asked Francis Glare the Principal Masterplanner from BDP to answer a few questions. Not least…What is a masterplan? Francis Glare, Principal Masterplanner What is a masterplan? A masterplan can mean many things to different people and … Read more
My Castle Gateway: Exploring the Masterplan Ideas Launch Event
25th and 26th November 2017 9.30-5pm. Various locations. Schedule below. Drop in. You walked. You shared what mattered to you. You imagined what you’d do in a future Castle Gateway. You wrote on post it notes and posted on social media. We are now able to share the Masterplan ideas for the future of the … Read more
Saturday Night!: Exploring York’s Streets, Rivers and Public Spaces
9:00pm Saturday 14th October 2017 Six of us gathered for the night walk, slightly concerned that it was a race weekend and the town might be full of unavoidable drunkenness. In the event the over-riding feeling was of emptiness – public spaces were generally quiet and under-used. It didn’t feel particularly dangerous and where people … Read more
Look at Your City: The power of 10 and the power of the perch
14th October 2017 Five of us undertook to Look at York, spending time in a variety of the city’s public spaces and trying to work out what was going on. To set the scene for our walk we looked at the Project for Public Spaces Power of 10: ‘The idea behind this concept is that … Read more
Challenges: Ownership and Values
In the fourth and final of our Challenges events we looked at ownership and values. In the My Castle Gateway draft brief the following was expressed: People want to be able to: Shop at independent shops or visit independent cafes or restaurants Develop small and independent businesses Not have to spend money – a place … Read more
Challenges: Movement
In the third of our challenge events we looked at movement. In the My Castle Gateway draft brief the following was expressed: People would like to be able to: Come together at a new public space that connects Clifford’s Tower, the Eye of York and Tower Gardens: for events, protests and commemorations Understand and explore … Read more
My Castle Gateway Stage Two: Working with issues as tools
By Phil Bixby Having done a large number of different public events – guided walkabouts in day and night, meetings, photography walks and events with local partners – we frequently get asked “how is this going to affect what actually happens?” Firstly, the Open draft brief we produced – which drew out the themes from … Read more