It’s a gloomy Friday afternoon in late October and you’re supposed to be attending a friend-of-a-friend’s Halloween party in a few hours. You don’t have a costume, so you make a last-minute trip to the Bargain Store, in a desperate attempt to throw something satisfactory together.
In the age of online shopping, the decline of the high street has become a notorious urban trend. But Edinburgh’s high streets are of vital importance in keeping community alive.
For students, the high street offers a third space. Just minutes from campus, Newington has so much to offer, from iconic lunch spots like Picnic Basket or Fettle, to an array of charity shops (which have probably already been picked clean of good finds). Edinburgh has a thriving student community, and the high street plays an important role as a space within which it can be nurtured.
The high street fulfils another function within Edinburgh, as a commercial setting which reflects the city’s gothic character and rich history. Edinburgh’s architectural design is a fundamental aspect of its identity, and part of what makes it such an evocative place to live and study.
Elegant architecture and Scottish Baronial-style turrets elicit a sense of mystery and romance, kindling stories and urban legends of a haunted city. As soulless modern shopping centres emerge – I am talking about you, St James Quarter – the high street faces potentially fatal competition, and thus protecting it has become increasingly important.
It is not a secret that our generation prioritises convenience over community, and as a result, we are forgetting the social interaction which can be found within local commercial spaces. During late-night online shopping sessions fuelled by the next round of micro-trends appearing on campus, the only source of contact arrives by email – Thanks for your order!
The high street offers human contact, and an entirely different shopping experience. Store owners can get to know their local customers and form meaningful relationships, contributing to a sense of community. If you have ever stumbled across Digger, a small and quirky independent “trinket” store, you have probably experienced the sense of community I am referring to.
Saying hello as you walk in and thank you as you leave, taking your time to actually look at and touch the goods which you might purchase; the high street facilitates small social interactions and slower, meaningful experiences which have become increasingly lost in the digital age. It is clear to me that Edinburgh’s high streets must be protected, and that they are highly valuable for perceptions of the city and the cultivation of community.
“Fringe 2014 Performers on Edinburgh High Street – MG 0036-001” by Brian McNeil is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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The High Street is Dying, We Must Save it
It’s a gloomy Friday afternoon in late October and you’re supposed to be attending a friend-of-a-friend’s Halloween party in a few hours. You don’t have a costume, so you make a last-minute trip to the Bargain Store, in a desperate attempt to throw something satisfactory together.
In the age of online shopping, the decline of the high street has become a notorious urban trend. But Edinburgh’s high streets are of vital importance in keeping community alive.
For students, the high street offers a third space. Just minutes from campus, Newington has so much to offer, from iconic lunch spots like Picnic Basket or Fettle, to an array of charity shops (which have probably already been picked clean of good finds). Edinburgh has a thriving student community, and the high street plays an important role as a space within which it can be nurtured.
The high street fulfils another function within Edinburgh, as a commercial setting which reflects the city’s gothic character and rich history. Edinburgh’s architectural design is a fundamental aspect of its identity, and part of what makes it such an evocative place to live and study.
Elegant architecture and Scottish Baronial-style turrets elicit a sense of mystery and romance, kindling stories and urban legends of a haunted city. As soulless modern shopping centres emerge – I am talking about you, St James Quarter – the high street faces potentially fatal competition, and thus protecting it has become increasingly important.
It is not a secret that our generation prioritises convenience over community, and as a result, we are forgetting the social interaction which can be found within local commercial spaces. During late-night online shopping sessions fuelled by the next round of micro-trends appearing on campus, the only source of contact arrives by email – Thanks for your order!
The high street offers human contact, and an entirely different shopping experience. Store owners can get to know their local customers and form meaningful relationships, contributing to a sense of community. If you have ever stumbled across Digger, a small and quirky independent “trinket” store, you have probably experienced the sense of community I am referring to.
Saying hello as you walk in and thank you as you leave, taking your time to actually look at and touch the goods which you might purchase; the high street facilitates small social interactions and slower, meaningful experiences which have become increasingly lost in the digital age. It is clear to me that Edinburgh’s high streets must be protected, and that they are highly valuable for perceptions of the city and the cultivation of community.
“Fringe 2014 Performers on Edinburgh High Street – MG 0036-001” by Brian McNeil is licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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