Anjian Huang

Glasgow’s development is deeply rooted in its rich industrial history. As the city continues to transform, it is increasingly evolving into a contemporary urban condition characterised by arts and cultural diversity. This context provides a strong foundation for introducing an open and inclusive public building in the city centre—one that enables citizens to actively participate in and discuss the development and shaping of their communities, streets, and urban future, fostering an intersection between heritage, design practice, and contemporary innovation within a shared urban platform.

This project integrates the “Urban Living Room” and the “Democratic Theatre” into a continuous spatial system, positioning the building as a form of civic infrastructure that accommodates both everyday public life and the display and discussion of urban issues. The design begins with an open ground floor extending from the street, hosting exhibition and public engagement spaces, while the vertically ascending spaces gradually transform into a “Civic Stage” that supports informal social activities, cultural events, lectures, and public debates. At the same time, the building introduces varying degrees of open and semi-open spaces—such as atria and light wells—to enhance spatial permeability and continuity. These vertically and horizontally interwoven spaces not only improve natural lighting and ventilation but also establish visual and circulatory connections between different programmatic areas.