Geographer Tim Edensor talks about his research on industrial ruins. This talk was part of the Invisible College research network, based on the ruins of Kilmahew and St. Peter's College, near Cardross in Scotland. It took place after a workshop at the site.
Tim argues that ruins act as sites from which to criticise contemporary forms of urban space. He thinks that many city spaces have become bland and unsurprising in recent years, and ruins remind us that things can be different.
He highlights four aspects of this, suggesting that ruins offer a critique of how cities regulate:
1. practices - what we can do
2. sensations - what can feel
3. aesthetics - how places are regulated through design and architecture
4. the past - how the 'heritage' industry regulates our understandings of history
The talk took place in the Geilston Hall, Cardross, on 23.3.2012. The Invisible College was funded by the AHRC.
http://www.theinvisiblecollege.org.uk/