What is a map?

‘Mapping’ is a process of discovery. It is the process of making an element or area visible or understandable.

Hidden from view, just west of junction 62 on the A1, Belmont Viaduct is an imposing Victorian railway bridge which used to serve a branch of the ‘Leamside Line’ railway between Durham and Tyneside. It was opened in 1857 but is now inaccessible. It currently lies tucked away behind the treeline of the Wear Valley. It is a glorious remnant of a once proud infrastructural and industrial past. Constructed from sandstone quarried from the gorge it was required to cross, the life of the bridge has been cyclical. It has passed from the natural stone of the Wear Valley, through the industrial processes of excavation and construction to the stage now where through disuse it has reverted to the character of landscape once again.

The quarrying along the banks of the wear and this area known as Kepier Wood provided much of the sandstone used for the construction of Durham Cathedral. The area is intrinsically rooted in local history and the familiar images of the city, even if not fully celebrated or understood.

Currently there are obvious signs of occasional recreational habitation along the river of everything from dog walking to underage drinking. It is an area which is an understated, appreciated local resource, but is of profound local importance historically and culturally.

What would it take to ‘map’ Belmont Viaduct, to make it visible and accessible?
What form of map could represent the history of the area?
What form of map could represent the future of the area?
What is the relationship between infrastructure and nature in this area?
Can a map be more ‘tangible’ to the site than a 2-dimensional representation, involving real objects and experiences?
Can the process of mapping reveal the site to a wider public in a real sense rather than a merely pictorial one?
Could this involve:
Signage?
Seats?
Litter Bins?
Rope Swings?
Bird Hides?
Shelters?

Can ‘mapping’ the area preserve its character whilst making it more publicly celebrated?

Submitted by De Matos Storey Ryan, award winning architects in London. www.dmsr.co.uk