Realising skateboarding as critical urban phenomena, and as a cultural extension to the city, we have no space of belonging so how can our community thrive? The history of skateboarding in Manchester is a story of reaction and resilience. It is in the nature of street skateboarding to nomadically travel a city, appropriating spaces for an alternative use yet this comes with conflict and frustration. A spatial strategy has emerged to address this issue, giving a range of spaces, paving the way of a new skate-inclusive urbanism. The ‘happy accidents’ of successful spaces allow for the continued interaction and dwelling of skateboarder with both physical form and other user groups within public space. When legitimacy has been questioned, a collision of experience and architectural discourse will emerge as tool to showcase the skateboarder’s right to the city and contribution to the perpetual, dynamic and exciting urban metropolis.
