Urban Building: A Gallery in the East End

OLIVIA BISSELL

This Gallery in the East End of Glasgow explores the celebration of a culture of art and making in the East End of Glasgow.

Taking influence from other civic exhibition spaces around the city, cultivating an accessible space for the showcasing of local and current art, whilst supporting the archival experience of the historic memory of artistry in the East End. The GIA festival supports the scheme on a nationwide scale, with the building acting as a hub space for this event, as well as the rich artistic heritage of the East End grounding it into its site in the Barras. Although it’s core purpose is in showcasing varied and relevant exhibits from local artists and community projects.

The footprint of the building infills the site amongst a collection of existing buildings, completing the corners of the block whilst maintaining an accessible and permeable facade. Hosting a series of gallery spaces, interweaving lobby spaces, archival rooms on upper levels, a theatre and humble courtyards creating space for the gallery experience to flow into.

The programme of past and present is echoed in the contrast of lightweight and monolithic structure, and the lightness and darkness of space. Contrasting atmospheres arranged programmatically create a journey through the scheme as inspiring as the experience of the art, media and artefacts displayed within it; with ground floor galleries capturing bright and ethereal space in contrast with the archival and theatre spaces capturing darker, moodier atmospheres.

The scheme’s ethereal and intimate atmospheres contrast with the vibrancy and buzz of the Barra’s Market and music venues, celebrating the beauty the climate has on the built environment.