Daria Baginska
(She/Her)
Growing up, I was always drawn to creative disciplines such as painting and dance. From an early age, I developed a strong curiosity for design, architecture, and form, constantly questioning how spaces can feel both welcoming and deeply personal at the same time.
Studying at the Glasgow School of Art transformed my perspective, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the creative field and develop a clearer understanding of my identity as a designer. Throughout my studies, I have consistently placed practicality, multifunctionality, and sustainability at the centre of my work. I pay close attention to detail, carefully considering the needs of different users and exploring how design can become both engaging and accessible for a wide range of people.
During my third year, I spent a semester studying at the Paris Camondo School of Art, an experience that greatly expanded my understanding of interior design as a multidisciplinary practice. It was there that I discovered a particular interest in multifunctional furniture design and the relationship between object, space, and user experience.
This experience became a defining step towards my final year project, where I brought together my passions for art, creativity, furniture design, and community-centred spaces. The project focused on creating a new creative hub for Glasgow — a place designed to support artists, makers, students, and the wider public by bringing together different artistic disciplines within one connected environment. Through this proposal, I explored how multifunctionality and sustainability can work together to create spaces that encourage collaboration, accessibility, and a stronger sense of community.
Concept
Hidden beneath the railway arches of the Gorbals, Citizens Art Quarter reimagines forgotten infrastructure as a vibrant village of making, learning, and performance. The project transforms twelve arches into a network of studios where artists and visitors can share the process of making and experience creativity as part of everyday life.
This project aims to support the wider regeneration of the area following the ambitions of Page\Park Architects, reclaiming a large derelict site and transforming it to provide unique facilities and a new point of attraction.
Citizens Art Quarter seeks to contribute to this transformation by introducing spaces that provide local people with skills and engagement in the arts, including studios for dance, ceramics, woodworking, jewellery making, textiles, and print, alongside an exhibition space where creative work can be shared with the public. The design encourages circulation between artists and visitors, inviting people to explore the space more confidently as a potential novice.
Collaboration and connectivity
The arches are linked by an internal passage that connects all disciplines, encouraging movement through the entire site. Artistic expression extends into the public realm through street art, workshops, and an outdoor performance area.
Citizens Art Quarter aims to blur the boundaries between artist and visitor, creating a fresh cultural experience for Glasgow that supports the city’s rise as a global creative destination.
Proposed Floor Plan
