Entrance foyer, 1:50 plywood model
Institute of Cartography : Glasgow : Student project : 2012
The Institute wraps around a corner site at the edge of the Blythswood grid in Glasgow city centre. The aspiration is to promote the art of map making to the wider public; the programme includes archive, galleries, reading room, cartography studios and learning spaces.
The Institute is designed to both appear dignified whilst inviting further investigation, therefore the north facade is raised above ground level, revealing the entrance, and acting as a civic gesture towards Bath Street.
The act of map making is the act of orientating oneself in space and time. This is mimicked once inside the foyer through the visual links provided by the two lightwells.
The Institute is proposed to be constructed of cross-laminated timber panels (CLT). The choice relates to the growing Scottish forestry sector and the hygroscopic potential of exposed timber interiors. Most importantly, the quick assembly of lightweight, prefabricated elements on a busy city centre site is a major advantage.
Reading Room, 1:50 plywood model
Sectional perspective north-south
Folded street elevation
1:50 Sectional model, build up imitates pre-fabricated CLT construction
Detail section through reading room
