The Victorian Arcades

After much confusion and really not knowing what to do at  the start of this project, I’ve decided to bring focus onto one area of Leeds that takes my interest.

I love the way the history of the city is still visible, despite being a fast developing and in areas quite a commercialised city. I’d like to bring focus on the areas where the history really shines through; and the arcades are a great show of this. I wanted to explore the arcades in more detail, perhaps focusing on just one in particular.

After checking some of them out, I thought the most impressive was the Victorian Quarter with the County and Cross Arcades. I’ve taken some photographs, done a few first hand sketches and some further illustrations from the photographs. 

I’m not sure if I want my book to be completely photographic images, or to include some illustrations of a similar style to the sketches below. I would like to include some text, perhaps information, references, opinions or quotes about the arcades… still throwing some ideas around.

[For those that are reading this who don’t know what I’m doing.. our first brief of Visual Communications is Reportage: “Explore Leeds, make a book about it.”..]

So far I have collected general historical information and research around the building and the development of the arcades as well as other artists impressions of the arcades to hopefully inspire me a little. 

For the crit on Monday morning we need all of our images chosen to feature in our book.. slightly stressing as I’m not sure where to go with it all… help.