Urban Translation

Cross Durant Road and continue along John Dobson St, under Bewick Court. The unwelcoming conditions and narrow pavement indicate we are moving through the '60's 'below world', its traffic fumes and poor lighting make it clear it was not designed for pedestrians. The Victorian Central Library that once adjoined the Laing Art Gallery to the left was demolished to create John Dobson Street and this explains the exposed brick wall.

Removal of a 60's remnant, the extended 'concrete lid' straddling this end of John Dobson street, exposed this wall to even greater view in the 1990's and the painted replicas of art works were added to brighten its aspect and to promote the Gallery. Across the road to the right, the new City Library replaces the earlier Basil Spence design and in addition to using the previous deck access, will also have a major entrance at ground level on New Bridge Street.

To our left we pass Thomas Heatherwick's Blue Carpet feature which covers Portland Place in front of the Laing – an example of a road that became a 'place'. Continue on to the junction of Market Street with Carliol Street.