Calton; In Common

Drawing from the spirit of Community Architecture, Calton; In Common situates itself in the East End of Glasgow. The project began by identifying three vacant and derelict sites previously highlighted by community consultation, and directly asking residents about their visions for the area. 

Rather than merely designing these community requests, the thesis instead proposes a Commons Trailer, handing over the facilities of a design studio, exhibition and workshop directly to the residents of Calton. Its portability allows the trailer to occupy neglected sites, encouraging those most related to the area to be involved in its improvements.

 Once an improvement is built, the trailer moves on. In its place, the area is left with a physical improvement, but as well as this, residents are left empowered to replicate the process elsewhere. The thesis imagined a full life cycle for the Commons Trailer, resulting in Calton taking full ownership of planning and design of their local built environment.