Brick by Bite: Central Saint Martins Walk
- Written byAnkita Dhal
- Published date 06 March 2025
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Post-Grad Community Ambassador Ankita Dhal (MA Global Collaborative Design Practice at Camberwell College of Arts) has formed a Post-Grad Interest Group for students wanting to make connections and explore London through food, architecture, photography and creativity. Brick by Bite meet monthly, read about their last walk starting from Central Saint Martins and exploring the surrounding King's Cross area.
Our new Post-Grad Interest Group, Brick By Bite, held its first meet-and-greet event on February 22nd at the UAL Central Saint Martins Campus (CSM). Given that our group's objective is to explore cities, architecture, and food cultures through intentional walking tours, choosing the historic CSM campus felt especially appropriate. We gathered at the canteen early Saturday morning.
The event began with a meet-and-greet, followed by an impromptu short walk around the neighborhood. Initially, we discussed the group's objectives—to embark on a journey exploring London’s urban fabric, not merely as passers-by, but as active, engaged explorers.
The simple act of walking can be a profound means of understanding the city. Drawing on Michel de Certeau’s insight that “everyday practices like walking allow us to ‘read’ the city in ways that maps never can,” we believe that every step is a creative act—a way to reinterpret the spaces around us. Similarly, Kerri Andrews reminds us that as we move through the city, our awareness deepens, and its textures, histories, and hidden stories begin to reveal themselves. Her work, which highlights remarkable women who have engaged with walking as both a philosophical and intellectual practice, serves as further inspiration.
Throughout our activities, we will reference these authors and many others. Participants are encouraged to follow and contribute to our dynamic, evolving reading list, which is live on our Padlet.
As we introduced ourselves and shared the cities we come from, we enjoyed the birds along the canal and the increasing bustle on the walkway. We even stumbled upon Word on the Water, a charming bookshop housed in an old boat. With a gift shop featuring artwork nestled on its exterior, the bookstore exuded warmth and invite. Next door, we discovered another boat hosting a tarot card reader and a floating nursery.
Our route then led us toward Camley Street Natural Park, managed by the London Wildlife Trust. Along the way, we passed the Gasholders building and park. One of our attendees, Charmaine, shared the iconic history of the building’s framed structure. With further investigation, we learned that the development now comprises 145 residential apartments designed by WilkinsonEyre—a project described as a dynamic counterpoint between old industrial aesthetics and the delicate intricacy of a traditional watch movement.
We concluded our walk at Camley Street Park, enjoying a quiet stroll and observing the local ecosystem. After climbing a small hill, we reached a cozy nook by the canal with a seating area—an ideal spot for sketching or reading.
At BrickByBite, our goal is to cultivate an intimate relationship with the areas we explore. We aren’t here merely to check off a route; we’re here to immerse ourselves in local culture. By delving into a neighbourhood's story—its architecture, food, and people—we forge a personal connection with London that goes far beyond the superficial.
Another key aspect of our exploration is creative documentation. Urban sketching and street photography aren’t just hobbies; they are essential tools for engaging with the city on a phenomenological level—that is, focusing on how we experience the moment. When we sketch a building’s form or capture a candid street scene, we preserve a moment in time and contribute to the city’s ongoing narrative. I encourage everyone to bring your sketchbooks and cameras as we venture out, so we can document and share our unique perspectives.
BrickByBite's next event will explore the areas around the Barbican Estate and Shoreditch on Wednesday 12 March, 2025, 11am. Book now.
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