Studio Brief 1: Location decisions

Figure 1

Figure 2

The location decisions were based on the information that had been found on various online archives and collections of writing that people had published about their experiences of being part of the Mod subculture in Leeds. The information found in figure 1 and 2 suggested that suitable locations would be:
- The Corn Exchange
- Kirkgate Market
- The Merrion Centre
- 14 Boar Lane
- County Arcade

The Corn Exchange
The whole of the wayfinding system concentrates on the locations in the past that were associated with the Mod subculture, so this shop shows how the subculture is still being enjoyed by groups of people today. 
This vintage shop is located in the Corn Exchange. It was not around during the 1960s, but it is somewhere that the same fashion is available now for people who are interested in the Mod fashion.

Kirkgate Market
A lot of those involved in the Mod subculture would regularly visit Kenedy’s record shop, located at the back of Kirkgate market. The stall was known to not be a legitimate as the actual department stores, but still to this day people are unsure as to how the records were available at such a low cost. Vallances records or Lewis’ record department were the more legitimate places to purchase records, but many found it more interesting to rummage through records that were taken from actual jukeboxes. Kennedy’s ended up selling more ‘clip in hole reducers’ than actual records as it allowed people to re-use slightly broken records rather than relying on the expensive production of new ones. 

The Merrion Centre
The Merrion Centre opened in 1964 “built to a specification based on imaginative, far-seeing thinking and the study of development projects in other parts of the world”.

The centre includes stores, shop offices, a bowling alley, cinema, dance hall, night club, hotel garage and filling station. 
The venue called  the ‘New Mecca’ was a popular venue for bands to perform. Those who followed the Mod subculture have shared that they would go to this on a Monday for live music and then go to the ‘Spinning Disc’ on Fridays. Those over 18 often enjoyed the ‘Key Hole’ club upstairs in the Merrion centre.
The Mecca Ballroom accommodates 2000 people and the 15-piece orchestra and a resident group used the revolving stage to provide a non-stop flow of music. The venue also had ultra violet lighting effects, echo chambers and an electronic organ. 

14 Boar Lane
The Bee Gee club club was in White Horse Yard. It was said to have a tiny stage where acts such as The Steam Packet would play all nighters. 
In the background the scheme to widen Boar Lane to 66 feet is underway. This was to involve the demolition of several properties on the south side of Boar Lane, including this once important coaching inn. Next to the White Horse on the left is the entrance to White Horse Yard where there are several established businesses including Benjamin Randall Vickers, oil merchant and drysalters. On the right-hand side the bookseller, Thomas Fenteman has received noticed to quit and is selling off. Also in the background is Thomas Yeardley, Grocer, at number 150 Briggate, near the junction with Duncan street. A sign above advertises Flaxland Brothers, Tea Dealers & Grocers. 

County Arcade
I can talk about the image found with a postmark of 1906 showing Briggate looking south. On the left is the entrance to County Arcade with Queen Victoria Street further along, all now part of the Victoria Quarter. On the right are Hope Brothers Ltd., hosiers, Dale and Walker's mantle warehouse with a large sign above, then J. Henderson's mantle warehouse at no. 71.P.
An Undated, Photo possibly dating from the early 1960s, looking from Cross Arcade into County Arcade to the front of the Mecca Locarno Ballroom. This dancehall had opened on 3rd November 1938. Mecca closed in 1969 (a new venue had been opened in 1964 in the Merrion Centre). It became The Stone in 1983 then a cafe in 1994. Notices outside give details of admission prices, varying from 2/6d early on Sunday evening (12.5p) to 6/- (30p) on Saturday nights. A special event is promoted on the round advertisement 'Midsummer Nights Dream Carnival, Wednesday 24th June, 3 bands, hats, balloons, novelties, competitions, 3/6d (17.5p). On the left edge is Vicker's gift shop, on the left of the Mecca is Greenwood's menswear business. 

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 3 and 4 show the buildings and then where each of them are on the map. This will allow for the map design to start as it is now clear which exact parts of Leeds are included in the Wayfinding system. The locations of where each of the in-between points also needed to be researched. Figure 5 shows the chosen locations and which of the wayfinding locations they were near, the distance to the locations, the average time to walk and the direction in which the arrows would need to point. 

Figure 5