On Wednesday we went as a group for our first site visit to Fort Lane and the surrounding area. I documented the site initially by observing the space and those in and around before taking some images of what caught my eye straight off. I then went around the site again documenting through the use of my cinematic device I had constructed. This device allowed me to view the site differently than my usual approach. The use of angled mirrors showed angles of the site I would otherwise have to adjust my position or line of sight to see. Instead I was able to walk as I usually would and still capture what was above and around me.
The site was fairly quiet and empty when I arrived around 8:30am. There were a few people on their way to work but all were quiet, in their own bubble and moving with purpose. A couple of cars were parked down Fort Lane already but the businesses I could see were all closed. The surrounding streets (Queen Street, Customs Street East, Fort Street) were busy with buses, cars and pedestrians. There was definitely more action on these streets as shops and cafes started to open but it didn’t seem to filter into Fort Lane as I had suspected it might. During this time several cars used Fort Lane as a short cut, mostly delivery vans. Apart from the odd vehicle the lane was quiet and subdued, cold. To me it felt as if the space was waiting for the day to start. I felt a sort of charged tension there that reminded me the feeling I get stepping out of the quiet and safe confines of my house into a bustling world.
As the morning progressed life began to filter into Fort Lane. More vehicles began to cut through and more people although this time usually in pairs or small groups and talking between themselves. The small side lanes (Imperial Lane and Snickel Lane) opened up and people met for coffees or to talk over work. Many of the people I noticed using these spaces were dressed professionally, likely having come from the surrounding office buildings. Other than those sat at the cafe in Snickel Lane I noticed that nobody stayed for too long in Fort Lane itself, that it is being used as a thoroughfare during these morning hours. On this day I was at the site until around 11am. I would like to visit again to see the site at different times such as lunch, afternoon/evening and late night when the bars and clubs will be open.
Spatial Design 
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