Rowan Kintrea ((she/her))

A safe place to relax, eat and learn; this urban food exchange project hopes to connect people through locally grown produce and home cook meals. Located near Spiers Warf, which celebrates the end of the Forth and Clyde Canal in the north of Glasgow. The Applecross site sits proudly on the canals edge and extends north up the hill offering excellent view over the city of Glasgow. The site’s industrial past makes for tricky ground conditions, as well as this it’s elevation and minimal surrounding shelter make for a fairly exposed site.  Research in the early stages of the project found that Applecross and the surrounding area in the north of Glasgow struggle with food insecurity, this prompted the development of the UFEX and community kitchen. The space aims to be a non-traditional institution which provides a safe, relaxed and natural environment to eat, learn and work.

This is achieved through open and flexible floor plans. The use of natural and recycled materials allows the buildings to both connect  to their past while also connecting them with their surrounding landscape. Perception of boundaries was prevalent throughout the progression of the project; the project respects the given site boundaries and utilises existing physical boundaries that the site has provided, namely the road running through the north and the canal to the south. These conscious decisions allow the scheme to take its place within the landscape while not overbearing it.