White Cube | everydaylife.style

ロンドンブリッジ駅程近くのBermondsey street（バーモンジー・ストリート）は、最近人気のエリアの一つ。昔の倉庫や工場など産業地帯の面影を残すこの通りには、Pizarroとその姉妹店のJose、Zuccaなど、近年トレンディなレストランがオープンしている。

テムズ川に近いこのエリアは元々湿地帯で、Bermondsey Streetはその中を通る土手道として作られた。中世には、ロンドンの市場に近く交通の便も良いこの地域は、真水の潮流が皮をなめすのに適しているということで、皮革とその関連産業が盛んになった。しかし19世紀頭にはその繁栄にも陰りが。1836年にLondon & Greenwich railwayがBermondsey Streetの北側を貫き、Bermondseyに産業が興ると共に、貧困と人口過密をももたらした。下水の悪臭や劣悪な住環境、騒音公害はひどく、産業が地域から去った後1900年以降は地域人口が低下。その後行政による住環境の改善が始まった。

多くの産業施設は取り壊されたが、近年残った建物は改装され、ロフト風「live/work（職住兼用）」住宅に生まれ変わり、ロンドンの再開発エリアとして人気上昇（Guardian紙）。1950年代にCaledonian RoadからBermondsey Squareに移転して来たBermondsey Antiques market（毎金曜日開催）に通じる道でもあるBermondsey Streetは、アンティーク業者が通り沿いの元倉庫を使用している。

↓ 下の写真はBermondsey Streetの北から南の順番に並べています

Bermondsey street in Southwark is one of the emerging trendy zone in London with old industrial feel. Hip restaurants and shops such as Zucca, Pizarro and sister venue of Jose have opened in recent years on this street.

Situated close to the river Thames, the Bermondsey Street area was originally marshland, and Bermondsey Street was built up as a causeway crossing the marshy land. The leather industry and allied activities began to flourish in medieval times, as the area’s freshwater tidal streams was ideal for the tanners. It was also close to the London markets and had good transport links. But the decline began in the 19th century. In 1836, the London & Greenwich railway was built across the northern end of Bermondsey Street. The railway opened up Bermondsey to industry but also brought poverty and overcrowding to the area. Open sewers and poor quality housing were common, and the noise and smells were awful. Later Industries moved out, and by 1900 the population was declining. The local council began to act on improving the area’s living conditions.

Nowadays Survived industrial buildings have been converted to ‘live/work’ lofts, and is becoming one of the most chic areas to live for Londoners (the Guardian). Also many of the former warehouses are used by antique dealers, as the street leads to Bermondsey Antiques market which was moved to Bermondsey Square from Caledonian Road in the 1950s and is held every Friday.

↓ Below photos are in order from the North to the South.