This project proposes a new Town Hall for Fort William, positioned at the threshold of community and large-scale infrastructure. Located at the end of the high street, my proposal occupies a complex urban position, marking the arrival at the high street from major transport routes across the A82 underpass, while also punctuating the end of the high street.
My design draws from local vernacular forms found on Fort Williams High Street, interpreting masses and roof profiles into an abstracted architectural language that references Fort Williams’ traditional town planning and architecture to create a contemporary communal identity.
Responding to the town’s urban fabric, the town hall reintroduces a forgotten lane into a more recently developed corner of the high street, whilst creating a defensive boundary against the scale, noise and speed of the neighbouring highway. The building acts as a shelter from infrastructure, creating buffer zones for the public.
A natural material palette of stone and timber grounds the scheme in the context of the West Highlands. These materials were chosen for their connection to the landscape and their long-lasting, tactile qualities, creating an architecture that responds to both the West Highland climate of prevailing winds and rainfall, as well as the community’s needs in Fort William.
Ultimately, my proposal serves as a marker and a mediator, anchoring the high street, defending against infrastructure, and providing the town with the needed communal spaces, rooted in place, material culture, and community.