The Yard

Alice Yard in Trinidad is a domestic exterior space, recently reinvented to host, instigate and inspire artistic production. It continues the cultural tradition of this space representing an area of "play and imaging".

I live in the North East of England, where the vernacular architecture (the Tyneside flat) reigns the streets of Tyne and Wear.

"A unit of Tyneside Flats may at first glance resemble conventional single fronted terraced houses, but is in fact two and sometimes 3 dwellings, one above the other. They have separate front and back doors and back yards with no internal communication between the households."



Thinking about the reinvention of my yard...

My yard is usually quiet, though the sound of kids hanging around and local 'domestics' are not uncommon. It is partially overlooked by neighbours (a ready-made audience) and everyone keeps themselves to themselves. Due to the often unpredictable and usually cold climate, my yard is only in periodic use during Summer. The walls and concrete floor show evidence of previous outbuildings - the coal shed, the outside loo, the cellar. How has the Tyneside yard evolved as an urban space? Was there a time when neighbours freely opened their back gates, or have back doors always been bolted and curtains only ever twitched? Did Britain' s historic street parties ever make their way around the back and into the yard?

How does the history of the yard determine the use of this space for artistic production?