You can plot the transformation of the space in a very distinct cycle denoted by the diagrams below. There is a very clear cycle that relates to Foucault’s ‘Dispositif’ model of space. Foucault uses 3 points to explore complex situations:
1 - Establish and ‘emergency’ or ’situation’
2 - Establish ‘rules’, ‘plan’ or ’strategy’
3 - Develop a ‘pattern’
These can be mapped to the cycles I have demonstrated below in that the ’situation’ is the decay or lack of use of the space, the ‘rules’ are the plans for the redevelopment and the ‘pattern’ is the cycle itself which restarts itself.

The first cycle shows the transformation from 1900’s Drake Circus to mid 70’s Drake Circus shopping center. This shows two steps of decay, one accidental during the blitz and one to make way for the redevelopment.

The second cycle shows the transfromation from mid 70’s Drake Circus to the Drake Circus Shopping centre we have today. This cycle show two different types of decay where the structure was left for a period of time to naturally decay, unused. Then the second decay is due to the second redevelopment into the new Drake Circus.

Here is just a quick demonstration of the shear extent of change that has taken place in the Drake Circus space:

One thing I have noticed looking through the history of Drake Circus is that it has always been recycled as a social space. When documenting the use of space for the Eden project there was a very clear divide between the uses where it once was an industrial clay pit closed off to the public and was then turned into a social, educational and botanical space in one swoop. Looking at the images below, central to the history of Drake Circus (throughout the early half of the 20th century at least) is the large ‘Guiness building’ in the center of the series of roundabouts known as Drake Circus. From the photographs you can see that this contains shops and a cafe or two. From this it has been recycled into a shopping complex and then recycled again into another (if not somewhat improved) shopping complex.

In order to document the space in some way, I took some photos of the space (all outside because the security guards get a bit aggro inside!) in similar positions to some of the historic photos in order to compare the physical change. The flickr set is below:

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I have also found some interesting video from the BBC archives which show the transformation of the space. Please remember all videos are property of the BBC and I am only collating sources as reference. I really don’t BBC lawyers issuing a cease and desist!

An extract from a BBC report on the demolition of the old Drake Circus shopping centre.

A BBC report on the concept and development of the new Drake Circus Shopping Centre.

A time lapse video of the Drake Circus build showing the physical transformation of the space.

I’ve been looking into the history of Drake Circus because I can foresee an interesting history due to Plymouth’s military history and location in respect to World War 2.
All the following photos were sourced from the BBC as they have extensive documentation of the history of Drake Circus:

An artists impression of how drake circus looked in the 1900’s (view from old town street)

Drake Circus after the blitz.

View from ‘Boots Corner’ early 60’s.

Drake Circus 1960

Drake Circus 60’s at night (shows the social aspect of the space)

Demolition of old Drake Circus to make way for the 1970’s shopping centre.

Opening of the 1970’s Drake Circus

The old Drake Circus prior to demolition in 2003.

The Decay of the shopping centre prior to demolition.

The Decay of the shopping centre prior to demolition.

Demolition of the car park shown above.

Demolishing the underpass.

Ariel shot of the foundations in place for the new Drake Circus.

The new Drake Circus meets with the rest of the city for the first time.

Finished. Shot of old and new.

The area we are to document is contained within the new drake circus shopping center in plymouth. The space that Chris finds most interesting is the west entrance atria with both north and south entrances to the center.

There are a number of aspects of this space that prove to be interesting. There is a very visible divide between this atria and the rest of the shopping center denoted by both the tiling pattern on the floor and the internal architecture. Also there are many uses for this space…both possible and implemented. Whilst primarily being an access route to the many shops contained within the center it also appears to be a socialising space with an open coffee shop situated in the middle with chairs and tables. There are also frequent exhibitions of various products (cars, photography and such like). Aside from these points I shall be applying the same principles I used in the Eden study to document the transformation of this space.

Something I have noticed from perusing through google earth, and also from general observations in Plymouth, Drake Circus is situated at the furthest eastern point of the city centre and the focal elevation of the building is on the outer edge, which while this is a sensible choice, it effectively makes the ‘flagship’ of the city turn its back on the rest of the city center. Just an observation!

As part of the precident study we had a visit to a space decided by Chris, namely the entrance atria to the new Drake Circus shopping center in Plymouth. While in this space we were to document it using the principles learned from our initial studies into, in my case, The Eden Project. Taking the fact that my documentation of the Eden project was focussed around its transformation and the history of the space, I tried to document Drake Circus in a way that would show what it has become and the further transformation of the space for different uses, then discover what it once was. This plan was scuppered by hitler-esque security guards/rent-a-cops who wouldn’t let us film or take photos inside of the building due to data protection and some other noise like that! Collectively we managed to get some images (these are the ones Luke took as mine were few and far between) but I will be going back to do it properly!