Portfolio Task 5- Lefebvre & Space

Historically, Clarence Dock was just that, a dock. In times where Leeds was an city of intense industry and relied on the transportation of goods and fuel via the Leeds Liverpool canal  and the River Aire. As technology advanced, Clarence Dock began this transportation via the railway. This upgrade enabled Clarence Dock to keep up with the modern age. However, when transportation of goods became solely road-based and the industrial boom began to lessen, industries down-sized and relocated. Many of the industrial unit became derelict and Clarence Dock was considered a wasteland.

It wasn't until many years later that the area of Clarence Dock was bought by developers. This was at a time that Leeds was considered to be a good city for business and to have one of the fastest growing economies in the country. Business growth means business people and the business people need somewhere to live. A development only 20 minutes from the city centre would eradicate commuting. 

Clarence Dock's representations of space are that of a 1.25 million mixed use development with 35 retail and food outlets. The majority of space is taken up by 1, 124 luxury apartments, with either one or two beds. There is also a further 100,000 sq ft of office space. The regenerated area began with the building of the Royal Armouries Museum in 1996.

Clarence Dock, in terms of representational space was intended to be a fashionable and upmarket way of living. An area for young professionals to inhabit and socialise within. In this instance, retail businesses would be fighting to have establishments at Clarence Dock. The people the area was aimed at would have disposable income, no dependents and a taste for good food and drink.  

However, the practice of the space is not a true reflection of it's ideological representational space. Many of the luxury apartments remain empty and some of the retail outlets have called it a day and relocated to more profitable areas. The problem seems to be the lack of community and a lack of atmosphere. If there is a lack of community, people will not live there, and therefore no customers for the retail outlets and restaurants. Clarence Dock can be described as a ghost town as it seems to be isolated from the city centre. Those that do not live there, do not venture there unless to visit the Royal Armouries.