Project Brief: Garscube Road was once a bustling area, filled with public houses, public spaces and business. However, since 1970, when the motorway overpass was finished, the area has been totally destitute of culture, business and human flow. The motorway throttles the city centre, and deters pedestrians from using the space for anything other than passing through, in and out of the centre of Glasgow.
The intention of this project is to return the site to its former glory in terms of pedestrian flow, whilst simultaneously affecting the perceptions of road and motorway users.
In order to facilitate the above I intend to create an intrusive space, which alters existing hierarchies, whilst detaching people from reality. In terms of programme, I intend to create a coffee house, bringing people together, culture, business and relaxation – juxtaposed against the rapid movement of the road and motorway. It intends to create a space which imparts a certain sense of freedom on the visitors. This central coffee house will be reached through six different paths from various directions. These will contain different shape and size spaces; some to accommodate groups, some for individual contemplative environments. The central space will extend up to the level of the motorway as a space to relax against the speed of the surroundings.
