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.
Andrew McCluskie
1:200 Landscaping And Curtilage Plan
1. Green Buffer to Old Dumbarton Road with Café Seating
2. Entrance Courtyard with Outdoor Gathering Stair
3. Roof Terrace with Rooflight Planters at the Park Level
4. Play Area
5. Community Beacon inside Repurposed Hospital Flue
6. Queen Mother Maternity Reading Green
7. Book Gifting and Distribution Building
8. Refuse and Community Recycling
9. Car Park
First Floor Plan - 1:100 - Antony James Graham
The first floor plan explores the educational and political nature of the building that offers further assistance in these fields for the public to learn, engage and participate in activities relating to Glasgow's heritage, culture, political and social status through workshops, galleries, lecture spaces, consultation rooms and the large main debating chamber.
Ground Floor Plan - 1:100 - Antony James Graham
The ground floor plan is home to the public elements of the building allowing free movement and interaction for cultural, political and social events and activities. Multiple entrances from the newly pedestrianised Clyde street and off the Clyde walkways frontage enter into gallery spaces, forums and into a multitude of free spaces detailed to fit a programme that assists the public in educational, personal and leisure related matters. The main spaces consist of large events forum spaces, a large public auditorium, free space lecture spaces, public representative offices and a public debating chamber. The entire building is present to respond to public needs and give voice to the individual and community that need to be heard in a building that is publicly directed and observed.
