Then & Now

 













Using imagery collected from the Central Library I started the tedious task of finding the locations of these old shop fronts and comparing to what exists their today. These are a few examples of the ones I've managed to locate.

Interesting how the To Let/For Sale sign on "Union Street Sale" and "Peacocks" has landed up on the same window!

What has been ultimately interesting about these comparisons is seeing how local/independent businesses have been replaced by the big chains that we see dominating the occupied units of Union Street today.

2012 Union Street

Focusing on Union Street, as part of my research I have documented the vacant units and their current condition.

I have also looked at what kind of shops are currently trading from Union Street, to no surprise it's mainly occupied by big chains. Some with multiple stores.

Jims Place, a huge resource of historical imagery

http://excoboard.com/jimsplace/134958

Stumbled across this website and found lots of useful information and photos of Aberdeen. 

Mary Portas independent review into future of high streets

Image from Mary Portas website

http://www.maryportas.com/news/2011/12/12/the-portas-review/

Mary Portas has appeared in the media a lot over saving the high street and her ideas to do this. She has also had television programs highlighting the issues of the high street. Having had a quick look through her review it contains lots of useful information and statistics that I could use in my project.

Really like the illustrations on Mary Portas website, they have a nice energetic vibe. That's how the high streets should be!

The changing British high street

Searching Google for some information on the British high street I found this animation created by someone also studying Graphic Design. The animation is simply a scrolling high street showing an evolution from the old independent shops, to the big brands taking over. For example taking a classy looking fashion outlet called 'Tailor' and replacing it with 'Primark' as the animation scrolls by.

This is a very clever idea. It's simple but visually illustrates the change that most if not all of Britain's high streets are facing. It fits in nicely with what my project is looking at and could be quite good inspiration into my own project development.

Bruce millers over the years

Bruce Millers first shop, George St (1900-1977)

Bruce Millers, Loch St (1983-1983)

Bruce Millers, Union St (1983-2011)

It's interesting to look at the changes to the shop frontage over the years, symbolizing changes in consumerism and the graphics that appealed. 

The future of our high streets?

It doesn't take much searching to find an empty shop unit on Aberdeen's busiest high street, union street. I walked the length of union street with my camera to document these, below are a few of the empty units.

Bruce Millers Jan 2012

One of the more recent and iconic names to close its doors was Bruce Millers. 111 years of trading in Aberdeen came to an end on the 6th June 2011. Leaving another hole in union street.

Unit on Union Street, Aberdeen. Jan 2012

Union street is supposed to be Aberdeen's busiest high street, it's supposed to be the heart of shopping in Aberdeen. Yet units like this are being left in very poor condition and really do impact on the visual appeal of the high street. The windows are dirty, out of date posters, out of date properties being advertised and incomplete signage. This doesn't look welcoming and impacts on the appeal of the surrounding shops.

Esslemont & Macintosh Jan 2012

Ever since this department store closed on the 5th May 2007 this huge retail unit has laid empty. It currently has council messages on the boarded up windows. It really does look awful and situated near the likes of marischal college it is terrible.

Unit on Union St Jan 2012

Are high streets destined for failure?