July 12, 2009

Perth CBD Alleyways - Part One - Baby I Like It Raw




Perth has an abundance of ready-to-use alleyways throughout the CBD. These laneways are the lifeblood of the city. Attracting skateboarders, drug users, fashion models, and Asian photographers, they already have the exact clientele any world class CBD yearns for. The gentrified laneways, such as Wolf, Munster, and Shafto lanes, were a good start. However, it's the location, rawness, and aesthetics of the central CBD laneways which will ultimately feed Perth's embryonic claim to realness.

All of the photos were taken in the Perth CBD, today.

Above and below: this is my favourite door treatment.




Six Zero Two Five once again visits Six Zero Zero Zero...



The hard work in this alley, by the talented designers, deserves another photo.







Alcohol and alleyways - just as nature intended...





Even lawyers are in the lanes. Asahi goes great with seafood.





I heard it was twenty bucks a scallop at Andaluz. When you work upstairs and charge like these lawyers do, thats recouped with a 3 minute phonecall and a couple of photocopy charges.




Kangaroo? Llama?












If somebody makes reference to Melbourne when talking about Perth's laneways, you should punch them in the nose. If anyone refers to alleyways as "hidden", just remember, they're probably from the western suburbs and don't get further east than Subiaco very often. Melbourne is not the only city on earth with activated laneways, and Perth's laneways are not "hidden" - most of them connect to the busiest streets in the city.

Without any hesitation, I can say that sooner or later there will be a "Perth Alleyways - Part Two" post. Even Jan Gehl (who, by the way, would totally beat that wimp Charles Landry in a fight) recognises that the utilisation of Perth's laneways is an essential piece in the "how to make Perth more vibrant" game. Personally, I think they are amongst the best parts of any city.

9 comments:

Yeah, Right. said...

that second photo used to be a favourite drinking spot of mine and a few buddies back in '04 and '05, as the asian restaurant that backs onto it doesn't give a shit whether you are sitting there with a boy taking swigs of johnny red as long as you dont throw it afterwards. i could have possibly had sex there as well. i think.

N. said...

Nice! You are my blog's key target demographic, personified. Thanks for the comment, come again!

Anonymous said...

Asian photographers lol. I'm asian and looking for a cool alleyway to shoot in and found your link. Top site

N. said...

Thanks! Good luck with the alleyway shoot...if you needs any addresses, email me. N.

justanothertragedy said...

I vaguely remember walking past one alleyway with a really pretty owl graffiti last Saturday somewhere in Perth but my memory fails me. I was in too much of a hurry to meet a friend for dimsum. Le sigh.

N. said...

^^
Sorry, I missed this comment, but the lane you speak of is "Grand Lane", parallel to Barrack Street, in the CBD.

Sarah said...

This is EXACTLY what I had in mind for my wedding photo location and would love some addresses if you're not on that tropical beach or in Europe so early in 2012. Feel free to tell me to not be lazy and find them for myself though! Cheers, Sarah

Matt said...

I recently went on a lane hunt through the city and found what I think are some of these places. A lot look like this absolute graffito smorgasbord I found on 'Bedford Place', the kangaroo/llama is on Grand Ln, and the alcohol alleyway was off St Martins Arcade next to a statue exhibition about the evolution of business attire. I don't know if any of those were taken in Prince Lane but I remember there being a lot of barred windows in that particular thoroughfare. It was fun recognising the places from your snapshots.
I saw some stickers up on an alley off Pier Street. Apparently there'll be a documentary called 'The Ashtray' filmed there, don't know what the subject matter will be about but sounds interesting.
Shafto Lane North frightens me.

Brad said...

hey im thinking of doing a shoot in a perth alleyway. im looking for a fairly lengthy one (long depth of field). any suggestions are greatly appreciated. cheers

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