"The skate spot at the Southbank Centre was created by accident. When the centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall was built in the 1960s, the architects left a space, or undercroft, beneath the building open to the public."
"Neil Ellis, skater and spokesperson for Skateboard GB, says that skate spots often develop organically in this way. Most people would see a set of stairs or a bench, but skateboarders see these places differently; they are things we can grind, slide or jump down."
"To mark 50 years of the city's most famous skatepark, the Southbank Centre is putting on an exhibition called Skate 50. Developed with members of the local skateboarding community, it will feature archival footage and photography as well as films."
Shane O'Brien began skating at London's Southbank Centre in 1975 and became a regular after a rite of passage in 1983. The skate spot emerged accidentally due to the design of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which left an open undercroft. This area has been utilized by skateboarders since the mid-1970s. Neil Ellis emphasizes how skateboarders perceive urban spaces differently, seeing potential for tricks. To celebrate 50 years of the skatepark, the Southbank Centre is hosting an exhibition called Skate 50, showcasing its history and community involvement.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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