Julia Szimak (she/her)

Glasgow is constantly changing, former industrial town now creative metropolis. The site, a space that was dominated by the shipyards is now undefined, it belongs to everyone and no one. In this space, the urban building does not change the rules but empowers the citizens to claim this space and make it their own.

Designing an ‘urban building’ is designing the third place. A place that is not one, your home and not two, your workplace. The third place gives a backdrop to spontaneous interaction, cultural exchange, learning, playing, creating, sharing, engaging. The third place turns an isolated city dweller to a citizen. How do we define these spaces in the age of social media? With the whole wide digital world in my pocket, do we need a physical third place?

The third place is not an amenity. This space forces interaction. It needs to allow change and dynamic, an architecture of improvisation. The architect of this place is not the spatial dictator, but the facilitator of innovation and interaction. The architect provides the backdrop for cultural exploration. Without a cultural hub, the city would not be a city. There would be no citizens. The architecture is inclusive for all citizens. The framework is provided but allows for flexibility and alterations. The building forces creation and interaction.