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Everyday ups and downs: exploring experiences of the lift in London
Supervisors: Dr Andrew Harris (primary), Prof Iain Borden (secondary)
The lift has dramatically altered mobility networks in the speed and distance that can be travelled vertically; without the lift, there would not be the height, depth, and volume of buildings in urban landscapes today. Yet, research exploring vertical mobility is highly limited, which is attributable to an overwhelming emphasis on horizontal mobility, and a widespread understanding of lifts and escalators as mundane infrastructures.
This doctoral project aims to address the lack of research by developing an interdisciplinary investigation of vertical mobility, drawing on the particular ways that lifts are used and experienced in London. From tower-blocks, to high-rise regeneration projects, commercial skyscrapers, hotels and spaces of consumption, London has seen a growing range of different forms of verticality, as well as a dramatic increase in the number of high-rise buildings in the city. It is within this context that the research will highlight the socio-spatial particularities of vertical mobility, questioning what a study of different lift spaces can reveal about social differentiation and status in London. This will be achieved by focusing on, and comparing, different typologies of vertical mobility, including: residential lifts (in social housing blocks and “elite” private residential dwellings), office lifts, glass lifts, restaurant/bar, and hotel lifts.
The research will explore the roles of spectacle, luxury, materiality, and sensation in the creation of a 'premium' experience, whilst also acknowledging the importance of visibility/invisibility and mobility/immobility. The project also looks to respond to current circumstances by considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use and experience of the lift.
Biography
Isobel was awarded a BA in Geography from Durham University in 2018, and went on to complete the MSc in Urban Studies at UCL in 2019. She is currently an ESRC funded PhD student in the UCL Geography Department. Her particular research interests include urban verticality, mobility, and public space.
Isobel’s doctoral project aims to develop an interdisciplinary investigation of vertical mobility, drawing on the particular ways that lifts are used and experienced in London. From tower-blocks to high-rise regeneration projects, commercial skyscrapers, hotels and spaces of consumption, London has seen a growing range of different forms of verticality, as well as a dramatic increase in the number of high-rise buildings in the city. It is within this context that Isobel's research will look to explore the socio-spatial particularities of vertical mobility, questioning what a study of different lift spaces can reveal about social differentiation and status in London.
Image: London's vertical growth