Site Plan of Part E of the Masterplan - Kate Melhuish
The Building aims to provide an immersive experience celebrating the Story of the Glasgow Washer Woman. This story if split into three parts.
Part 1 is the Glasgow washer woman: The collective act of washing and getting clean has been prevalent throughout Glasgow's history. Before the creation of the bathhouse, or Steamie, the women from a certain area would gather together and head down to the river to perform the ritual of cleaning. The washing of cloths became a social and community activity, a time for women to communicate and support one another.
Part 2 is the Goddess Clota: Depicted as a lone washer woman seated on the edge of the river or a ford the Goddess Clota was the Celtic deity of the Clyde. They worshiped the water and regarded the river as sources of fertility. The Clyde was known as the purifying as it carried large amounts of mud to sea when it flooded. an earlier name for it was Clwyd meaning heard from a distance. These qualities of the river were reflected in the Goddess she was known to be pure and hold the divine ear.
Part 3 Is the Bean Nighe who is depicted as a lone washer woman. She is a female spirit or banshee, a messenger from the other-world. She can be seen washing blood from cloths at the ford of a river, it is believed that these are the cloths of those about to die. If approached with caution, a person may be able to get between her and the river they are entitled to the granting of three wishes or the telling of three truths. This varies within different versions of the legend.
Map of the Clyde Highlighting Existing Celebrations of History and Opportunities for New Ones - Kate Melhuish
The Clyde is the main river that flows in the west of Scotland. It is a major feature in the natural landscape. Not only is it a prominent feature in the natural landscape but it is also key element in the development of places, memories and stories. This map highlights some of the told and untold stories that run along the riverside. Within this project I explored various stories and created an architectural time capsule of one, which can be used as an example of how to produce this corridor of memories, celebrating lost stories.
