The civic centre as a concept is more out of reach in our current crisis than it has been in liveable memory. However it also gives the opportunity to reassess parts of life we previously took for granted or were assumed to be unchangable – particularly in regards to education and the new ways and methods of learning across ages and groups.

With worklife increasingly changing as we move further into the 21st century, and ‘jobs for life’ fast becoming a distant memory for people of all ages – it begs the question of what support is there for the growing number of people who need to adjust their career path later in life. While education has historically been seen as a paternalistic thing, focused on children only – there is more and more awareness for the need of continual learning and re-learning throughout your life. Whether its simply different cultural norms or reskilling completely in a ‘reinvention of the self’, it is clear that deciding a career path as a teenager is not for everyone and in fact people should be encouraged to explore new things at any point in their life.

Support of this kind is particuarly absent for more working class and less well-off communities – such as that of Calton, which suffers from some of the highest poverty rates, particuarly for children, in Glasgow. In order to help tackle this as a key focus, this proposal aims to provide charitable facilities for education and learning for the surrounding community of Calton, particularly focusing on the creative arts which are often elitist and out-of-reach for many people across society. It will also facilitate performance and exhibition needs for both learning and visiting artists – creating a new way of community learning and encouraging new skills at all ages. With this it will have capabilities for people suffering from mental health issues and provide an opportunity for those suffering from poverty. It looks to foster a healthy, nurturing learning environment that is open to all and provide for those who may not otherwise have access to certain facilities – whether its workshops and traditional artistic tools, or performance spaces and digital work.

The traditional way of learning and education – from school at a young age to university if you’re lucky or priviledged enough, to finally a job that you’re in for life – is becoming increasingly outdated – particularly as work becomes more and more precarious for employees who are often let go without warning or families having to juggle several. Instead this proposal suggests a more circular approach to learning, where you can come back to education as and when you need it, whether its for a new career and skillset or even just to achieve self-fulfillment creatively or otherwise.

With an opportunity for a housing proposal in the heart of the historic Barras district of Glasgow brings the opportunity for a new approach to housing in the area – while specifically working to tackle child poverty which has historically been an issue across Scotland for decades.

This proposal suggests that a communal, co-living experience would work to home and provide purpose for both the adults and children in families suffering from poverty – as well as create a healthy community that could interact with the existing Barras district to help in its rejuvenation and repurpose itself.

Through several shared living spaces between two families but separate sleeping quarters the housing itself provides a support network aided by the development of a community hub with multi-purpose halls, nursery and study areas. On site care can provide support in a more professional manner, with education and recreation opportunities for both adults and children helping to provide a stable environment for the inhabitants.

Domestic Approach:

Communal living to create support network for parents – providing stable environments for education, socialisation and development skills.

Labour Approach:

Defined indoor and outdoor work spaces – dedicated study and independent work spaces contrasted with the shared central space including maintaining an intensely planted garden area.