This blog will continue to be updated with new projects, news and other developments.

Following a consultation event and drawing on my own experience of attending outdoor events in Scotland, a decision was made to develop a design which provides some degree of protection from the Scottish weather. It was felt this would also provide the opportunity for the structure to become a destination and meeting place throughout the year.

The resulting design draws on influence from large-scale landscape sculptures and installations. As the structure will sit in a park setting there is little built context surrounding it, this led me towards adopting a more sculptural approach to the arena.

The design consists of three elements, one containing services, one the stage and the larger element cover the existing terraced area.

The scheme has been shortlisted for inclusion in an exhibition to be held as part of the 2010 southside festival being held on 22/23 May

more photos can by found here

Cumbernauld Village Children’s House was completed in September 2009, with the official opening in November. This is the third children’s House completed for North Lanarkshire Council‘s Social Work department this year and marks the succesful completion of an ambitious modernisation programme which has taken nearly 5 years.

The rich pallette of materials employed in this project was infuenced by the mix of materials found in the village context.

The form is derived through a mix of site constraints and the requirements of the brief. Two courtyards provide safe play areas open diectly into a commnal living space. The white rendered object houses a quiet room and a similar room houses the resource room in the neighbouring courtyard.

The large communal living area opens on both sides to the courtyards and provides a flexible living space which is easily supevised without being overbearing. The houses are home to children of varying ages and designed to provide a safe place they can call home for however long they are there.

south east elevation

Glenboig Neighbourhood House, an organisation providing a wide range of community support services, having out-grown its current premises on Glenboig Main Street, started looking at options to refurbish and expand their existing premises or seek alternative solutions.

Following a feasibility study, GCA were employed to develop plans for an identified site on the edge of the village park which was formerly the site of the Starworks brickworks which produced bricks which have been shipped throughout the world.

The form of the building is influenced by the shapes and forms of the industrial buildings that once littered the site. The tower we have provided which defines an external ‘piazza’ at the entrance to the building is derived from the kiln chimneys that were a feature across the skyline of the area for many years and is proposed to be constructed from original Glenboig brick as a lasting tribute to the industry that helped mould the community.

how the site looked in the 1960's

The proposed materials are chosen to help the building sit within the park context. A mixture of timber and copper cladding have been selected which will age and colour naturally over time.

The building will contain a function hall, meeting rooms, community cafe, youth area and recording studio with a focus on creating flexible spaces that can be adapted to a wide range of uses.

model view from south east

Sustainability and environment play a large part in the proposals with a wind turbine, ground source heating and biomass boiler all featuring in the designs.

The proposals have been submitted for full planning permission and various grant applications are being sought.

north east elevation

View from Albans Crescent

GCA have been working closely with North Lanarkshire Council Social Work department to develop new Children’s Houses throughout the district. Motherwell Children’s House was completed in June 2009 with the new residents moving in early in July.

The 6 bedroom house is designed to meet the standards set out by the Care Commission. The brief was developed in close consultation with young people, care workers and management in order to tackle the day to day issues encountered in previous buildings.

We developed a plan that created open plan multi-purpose space with bedrooms accessed directly off this space. Lack of activities and boredom were a common theme during consultations and we have created a space to accommodate and provide for facilities such as computers, art, music and games as well as comfortable areas where young people can relax without feeling they are being supervised at all times. This is also reflected in the outdoor courtyard style garden where a small kick about pitch, basketball area and decked area provide for a range of outdoor activities.

Activity Space

The building is set within a residential area, predominantly of post war non-traditional house types and we have attempted to reflect the scale and materiality of the surrounding buildings. The courtyard elevation is dominated by the larch clad cylindrical bedroom pods, each housing three bedrooms with en-suite facilities. The dining and lounge area open onto a south facing deck and a view over the whole garden area.

Garden

GCA were also employed to provide interior design services. This involved consultation with the house staff and the new residents where they were involved in selecting colours, fabrics and furniture for their bedrooms and the rest of the building. This also helps in the transition to moving into such a different environment as their active involvement in the process encourages a bit of ownership in the building.

art area

For a relatively small building, the brief developed is quite complex on several levels including the planning of how spaces work together to create a secure and homely environment. The involvement of the people who will work and live in the building from an early stage has been key to the success of the end result.

Further Photographs are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scarpadog/sets/72157621259582283/

Proposed entrance view

The building envelope is developed from a singular distinct form that relates the the scale and typology of the surrounding residential contect. A glazed element is inserted into the main body of the building to provide natural light into the public area while still maintaining privacy and security.

Zinc cladding is used to express the ground floor element of the building which is contrasted against timber cladding which softens the visual impact of the zinc.

Entrance to the building is articulated by a protruding brick wall supporting the roof glazing.

The intention is to provide modern secure premises for the organisation that sits well within the community that it serves.

proposed elevation