Amy Al-Khoury
(she/her)
Growing up between Syria and Scotland has deeply influenced my understanding of culture, history, and the built environment. Being surrounded by contrasting design languages and traditions has led me to develop a strong appreciation for heritage and preservation within my design approach. My time in Syria, in particular, shaped my sensitivity to craftsmanship, where attention to detail and hand-made processes are deeply embedded in everyday environments. This has given me a lasting respect for craft as a way of creating spaces that feel grounded and culturally resonant.
While studying, I learned to approach design through careful observation and research, developing an understanding of how spaces must continuously adapt to changing ways of living. As modern needs evolve more rapidly, I became interested in how historic environments can be thoughtfully reimagined to remain functional and relevant without losing the qualities that give them meaning. This has also led me to look back towards cultural memory, drawing on fragments of place, atmosphere, and lived experience to inform a design language that feels familiar yet reinterpreted within a contemporary context.
I’m particularly interested in how materiality, atmosphere, and spatial experience can preserve memory in contemporary ways. Rather than replicating history, I aim to reinterpret it through quiet and thoughtful design gestures that feel both timeless and relevant to modern life.
Concept
Healthcare systems can often feel complex and difficult to navigate, particularly for women whose experiences are not always fully understood. While traditional healthcare plays a vital role, it can sometimes overlook the broader emotional, mental, and lifestyle factors that shape overall well-being. This can leave many women feeling disconnected from their own health, unsure of how to move forward, or lacking the knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions.
Whitevale Place is a wellbeing space centred on holistic practices, designed for women and those experiencing conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, hormonal imbalances, and fertility challenges. It acts as a starting point for a woman’s journey into wellness, while continuing to support her as she grows through conversation, education, and both mental and physical care. The environment encourages meaningful connections, allowing women to feel supported as they move forward in their own way.
The space aims to create an accessible and welcoming environment where women feel comfortable engaging with holistic health without intimidation or complexity. It is designed to encourage a natural and supported starting point, while promoting continued involvement and confidence in building sustainable practices that can be integrated into everyday life.
To reinforce the idea of taking control, the space is designed to feel non-intimidating and far removed from a clinical setting. It is organised into different typologies of support: nutrition, education, physical healing, treatment, and self-guided learning. Thus, allowing each woman to move through the space at her own pace. This approach recognises that every journey is different, reducing any sense of pressure or overwhelm while creating a more comfortable experience.
Users
Site
Former Whitevale Baths
75-89 Whitevale Street
Glasgow G31 1AQ
The Journey Begins in Whitevale Place
Ground Floor Floorplan
Reception
Welcome to Whitevale Place. The reception offers a warm and welcoming environment, allowing the journey to begin with a sense of comfort and ease. Subtle references to the building’s Victorian origins are integrated into the design, grounding the space in its historical context.
Library
Welcome to the Library. The space is designed to respond to the narrow proportions of the existing building, guiding users naturally through it. Its layout encourages a slower pace, allowing visitors to move through the space with ease while taking time to explore, read, and reflect.
The workshop space is located within the library and is divided by a bespoke partition featuring a retractable curtain system. When workshops are not taking place, the curtain can remain open, allowing the area to function as part of the wider library. During sessions, it can be closed to create a more private and focused environment.
The Refectory
Welcome to the Refectory. The experience here contrasts with the rest of the project, creating a sense of openness and surprise. Defined by its high ceilings, the space breaks away from the otherwise narrow proportions found throughout the building, offering a lighter and more expansive atmosphere.
First Floor Floorplan
Physical Care
Welcome to Physical Care. This space is designed to feel grounded, reflected through the material palette and soft lighting. The atmosphere encourages calm movement and comfort, creating an environment that supports both physical recovery and a stronger connection to the body.
The curtain that is attached the walls sides hides a storage unit, that holds equipment that might be needed in classes, to keep the space visually de-cluttered
Extended Design
Apothecary Tiles
From the beginning of this project, I wanted to explore the connections between the existing Victorian tiles within my studio project building and how I could reinterpret them in a contemporary way. While walking around Glasgow and paying closer attention to overlooked details, I became increasingly interested in the relief tiles found at the entrances of tenement buildings.
I realised that this level of craftsmanship and decorative detail is now mostly limited to historical or themed spaces, which made me question why such expressive surfaces have become so plain in modern environments.
This quickly became the focus of my tile designs. By combining the holistic ethos of my building with its Victorian architectural origins, I aimed to create something new that still takes inspiration from traditional decorative forms.
