Maryhill Food Exchange

PHILIPPA COOK

The Maryhill Food Exchange positions urban farming at the heart of a new sustainable food plan for Glasgow. Using growing sites along the canal network as well as Temple Gasworks vertical farm and the Applecross hub, the food exchange provides fresh produce to local communities year-round, feeding up to 15,000 people annually.

The central hub at Maryhill Locks is a residential college, processing hub, growing site and community assembly space. Its tectonic form borrows from monastic culture, positioning the hub as a centre for learning, growing, and living – spiritual in its connection to nature. The courtyard and cloister act as a device that simultaneously connects and separates the House and Hub, providing both moments of seclusion and opportunities to come together.

Natural materials connect the occupants to the tactility of their surroundings where planted orchards, vegetable gardens and wildflowers spread along the canal. The use of local stone and dowel-laminated timber, combined with natural insulations creates a healthy indoor environment whilst also minimising embodied carbon. Materials have been selected for their ability to be dismantled and reused due to minimal adhesives and mechanical fixings.