Ciara Barclay (She/her)
I am an interior designer working mainly on educational and recreational spaces. I like working primarily with structures and materials of a building to improve the users experience and productivity whilst in the space. I have a keen interest in the psychology behind how materials and volumes of space and how it can affect the users experience, mainly in relation to Biophilic Designs. I enjoy renovating spaces and repurposing older buildings, bringing them a new life whilst highlighting their potential. My work this year has had a major focus on incapsulating that, and exploring the possibilities of restoration.
Howden Works Concept
The proposed space is a nomadic, communal studio on the outskirts of Glasgow’s city centre in Tradeston.
The studio’s purpose is to provide a welcoming space to members of the public which allows the users to enhance artistic skill and boost levels of creativity. The space will include communal areas where personal projects can be worked upon in an environment specific to the needs of those working at the studio.The space will also be utilised to provide opportunities for attendees to access pastoral support for social and emotional purposes. The interiors are designed with a view to promoting hands on opportunities in making spaces. The studio will have a wealth of opportunities for attendees to work using traditional methods.While access to digital technologies is desirable, this aspect is currently out with the scope of this project
The studios will include event spaces and open areas which are open to the public on specific days and times. Events such as night classes and discussion will also be available.This is targeting a wider range of people, opening this facility up to the larger community, providing a social hub for those who maybe enjoy the social aspects of the creative workings and use it as a way to be a part of something within their community.This section of the building will be a neutral area which is able to accommodate for everyone.The surrounding communities will be the primary source of these attendees owing to the deprived areas in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site.
The modular structures
Location
191-197 SCOTLAND STREET
For this project one of the main ideas, I wanted to experiment with was working with different volumes of a space and seeing how they balance out and fill the site, also touching on how these spaces make people feel and interact. So, for me when considering a site, it was important to have the freedom to experiment with this. A large empty space I felt would be the most ideal so it could allow me to build and trial different volumes and spaces. Industrial buildings, especially warehouses, tend to be open and have a solid simple structure due to its purpose of accommodating large
machinery.
Howden Works warehouse was a perfect example of this as it stood as more of a shell of a building and for me this equated to endless opportunity of experimentation.
Workshop Spaces
The workshop spaces are designed to accommodate users who require more specific equipment for their creative work. The woodwork and spray painting workshop is located on the ground floor.This workshop is to facilitate users who wish to carry out basic woodwork and spray paint in a safe environment. The space is designed to provide allocated spaces to carry out these activities. 12 work benches, 3 spray booths and woodwork machinery are included in the workshop.
This Printing Studios provides machines and workspaces for those who want to use the printing facilities.
Open Studio Spaces
The open studios are a nomadic space where the users can work creatively.The space is designed to allow users to freely work, without being limited to a designated workspace. The studios are able to facilitate users who typically work from a desk space. Activities like drawing, painting, designing, or working from laptops etc are all facilitated for.
Interactions between users are promoted due to the open plan layouts and the flexible winding desks.The space encourages collaborations between artists and designers through the main feature of the nomadic desk space.
Private Pods
The private studios are an extension of the studio village. These private spaces are entirely separated from the open studios. The idea behind this design was to create a space which provides an alternative working experience to individuals who wish to have complete privacy and solitude. The purpose of disconnecting them is mainly to reduce sound disturbance and possible distraction from other users. The pods are typically used in which ever way suits the user. Each space is a blank canvas for whatever activity the user wishes to carry out. Painting larger canvases, sculpting or even fashion designing are a few of the many activities that may take place in the pods.
Events Space
The Events Space is a multifunctional space which can be used for a variety of activities. The open plan design would accommodate the activities by the accompaniment of different apparatus which is needed depending on the activities. The volume proportion of the interior was key to maximising the generosity of spaciousness. As the events space would typically be filled with people and equipment, it was important for it not to feel overcrowded.The floor to ceiling height space helps to emphasise the space and exposes the sky lights from above, letting the natural day light flood the interior.
Other Spaces
The overall spatial experience of the studio is aimed to echo the activities that would be taking place within the space.The creativity of the users is something that I wanted to capture through the medium or an architectural structure in which they would be their most creative.
Although most of the studio spaces are enclosed within the different modules, they all are connected in some way, whether that be through a ramp or by making visual connections through the large arched windows.This fluidity of the space was important as it was an element used to heighten the users experience through their interactions and connections they make with other users. The structure was designed have the feeling of space and freedom, but also to be connected with one another through the the uses of the more transparent boundaries. These boundaries are highlighted through the use of large windows which all face out into the main entrance space, allowing for them to be partially exposed to the rest of the studio.The frequent use of sheer textiles and textured glass was also another way to capture this transparency within the interior.
