In Peckham, as with many neighbourhoods in London, there's internal discord over the forces of gentrification. But Nicholas Cobb's amazing model instead asks: 'What if everything just went completely to hell?'
He's made a dystopian recreation of Peckham's multi-storey car park (currently home to Bold Tendencies) 99 years in the future.
Cobb was inspired to create the piece during a visit to the car park last September.
‘I found myself gazing at the sunset over the London skyline, and the thought struck me that my next project should be a ruin – a post-apocalyptic diorama – so why not choose the very building I’m standing on?’
‘After all,’ Cobb explains, ‘the Peckhamplex below was showing Hollywood blockbusters of apocalyptic events at that very moment, and the council have plans to demolish the car park itself in four years.’
Cobb also considers whether the idea came from being surrounded by young people, and, in his words, feeling his age.
‘I thought this would be a suitable “vanitas” subject: enjoy it now – but be aware that everything passes.’
Cobb photographed the actual car park inside and out and drew up some basic plans to a 1/60 scale.
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