happening now ?

If I were to arrange photo walks in London, and the theme for one would be abstracts, design or graphic shapes or something like that, I think we could do worse right now than to take a trip to Lewisham. The mixture of styles is clearly apparent, giving rise to a feel its own, and would surely provide plenty of inspiration.



If the area is undergoing in places some sort of 'regeneration' it is of course alongside, as happens and has been said, some sort of cultural and artistic engagement. Art Mongers signs are visible. Art cafes in nearby New Cross opposite a new coffee shop already maybe threatened next to a threatened estate along from the rail line planned to run through Sainsburys... It's a shame many here as elsewhere can't help but get a sense of vultures circling. Where there's need for change it has to be done right. The local student population, who are probably the target of much of those selling the new, seem to have their heads and hearts right and eyes open, however -



The mix of old and new is visible on all the contrasting buildings. The shopping centre car park is probably a brutalist architecture lover's dream. Deptford library has a design with different ideas.



The famous phone box turned into a library is a modern take on what book sharing often by necessity is all about, and another use has been found for a box near Goldsmiths too -



Hm.

The flats nearer Lewisham station have been designed in a way you might expect, certainly providing a few more opportunities for full-frame colours and shapes that maybe digital prefers?



And of course the leisure centre and surrounds could probably provide quite a few sharp angled abstracts too?



A style and look for here is certainly more forthcoming than other areas. The tall, contrasting, bright new builds alongside historic rivers and designs kind of scream out to you and mean it could do with more than one walk around. It's an up-and-coming area - 'happening', for better or worse.

When I did @LondonIsYours I took a day to see if, as seemed to be the case, pretty much everywhere in Peckham gave an opportunity for a good shot - you could spend time, go anywhere, and find yourself back full of photos, full of colour. Maybe Lewisham, for similar reasons, is the same.