Some of these photos are just around the corner from my house. Weird to see them in Hacker News.
Some of the people who own houses in my area have started hacking off the painted cement and brought the houses back to plain brick. Even some of the ones who had murals painted on them for Upfest (mentioned in the article), it seems a more conservative feel has started taking over. I think it’s sad to see the colours disappearing.
Is this due to the stage Bristol has reached in the gentrification cycle?
It's been a vibrant alternative town, but from what I understand, this made it desirable to more and more people moved in, especially as London (and I guess Brighton) became completely out of reach for most people on normal incomes. What follows is probably a more conservative, less colourful mindset...
I suspect a lot of the back to brick is actually more phase one of dealing with damp. Once its dried out a lot of houses in my area then go and get coloured insulating render. So it's not even paint anymore but the actual material is coloured.
Don't worry, Banksy is always waiting to strike just around the corner to spice up the place. Although then there is the risk of someone removing the wall and selling it. Also I noticed his latest thing got immediately scribbled over..
Honestly though the bright colours are mostly on the highly visible houses on hillsides, as soon as you get into the thick of the houses, even up in fancy Clifton it all turns a lot less colourful for 99%. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I think people just like having their house as part of the view, and contribute their little bit, just so they can say "I'm the pink one on the end" - I would :D
Some of the people who own houses in my area have started hacking off the painted cement and brought the houses back to plain brick. Even some of the ones who had murals painted on them for Upfest (mentioned in the article), it seems a more conservative feel has started taking over. I think it’s sad to see the colours disappearing.