Moments & Exchanges

The study trip to Amsterdam enabled me time to reflect on my design project; here I was able to document the social, cultural and economic practises taking place amongst a contrasting architectural setting, with the aim of translating my research back into my emerging studio work. My moments and exchanges drawing depicts a visit to an independent record store and the stages of selecting, listening to and buying a record. Here, I observed how the shop floor became the spatial backdrop for a range of social interactions between the store's customers and owners, the process of discovering and purchasing music and its necessitated journey through the shop encouraging discourse and interaction. The selection, appreciation and purchasing of a record is illustrated in a 3 stage narrative in the associated image.

"Record stores hence provide a unique programme, tying together physical product with cultural narratives, bringing to the mix intricate relations among things, labels, artists, buyers, and scenes. They are social spaces where knowledge and feelings are shared" (Bartmanski, 2015) [click for source]

Thresholds

Moments

Exchanges

Over the past twenty years, Rush Hour has developed into more than just a store; sure it’s now one of Europe’s best labels and an international distributor, but it’s also an indispensable meeting place and public noticeboard for the curious-eared community" - Vinyl Factory [click for source]

Business

Social Space

Amsterdam

Musical Community

Social Enrichment

Economic Input

A diagram illustrating the relationship between Rush Hour Records' programme and its associated community of users; transcending beyond a mere business outlet into a thriving hub for Amsterdam's musical scene grows a niche but healthy market of customers, who in turn benefit from the use of the record shop as a social space.

AMSTERDAM GALLERY