MSA Stage 4 School of Architecture
Urte Dzedraviciute
Cultural Exchange Urban Building
‘Living in Agreement’ emphasizes negotiation, compromise, and balance across diverse political, social, and cultural conditions, recognizing the complexity of lived experiences. The Urban Building contributes to this by envisioning an educational Cultural Exchange Centre that promotes cultural understanding through art, music, education about the neighbourhood, and community engagement.
The design features a 5-storey structure on Alexandra Parade St, with half the building lowered to align with adjacent dwellings, creating a harmonious transition. The centre in Dennistoun’s northern art community includes versatile spaces like creative art workshops and movement-based craft studios. At the heart of the building, a centrally located double-height auditorium will serve as the main gathering space, anchoring the diverse array of activities and exhibitions within the building. The gallery is at the top of the building, acting as a marker of the neighbourhood, providing panoramic views. In addition to the proposed exhibition space focusing on architectural legacy, it is imperative to incorporate an archive within the building that will serve as a repository for all architectural drawings pertinent to Dennistoun, consolidating them into one accessible location.
Given the critical importance of fire safety and preservation, non-combustible materials such as oxidized steel and sandstone were prioritized and meticulously chosen to mitigate risks and ensure the protection of precious artefacts and documents in the archive. Cladding the building in sandstone panels nods to the area’s red stone tenements, blending it into its historic surroundings. At the same time, the red-hued copper mesh and glass curtain walls provide privacy, shade, and natural light, complementing the sandstone by enhancing the visual appeal and highlighting Dennistoun’s architectural heritage.
This initiative aims to foster community cohesion and celebrate cultural diversity by embodying the principles of ‘Living in Agreement’ within the vibrant context of Dennistoun.
Duke Street Urban Housing
Ensuring cohesive relationships between the public realm and extended built structure layouts was the focal point of the Urban Housing project. The new contemporary apartment building occupies the adjacent space inside the park, while across the street, the roof construction of the building block is replaced by an extension of new units for retrofit. The final program incorporates strategies such as alternative housing layouts featuring additional rooms, comfortable living/dining areas, balconies maximising sunlight, and shared laundry spaces to foster interactions among residents. The ground-floor café, with significant glazing and bi-fold windows, serves as an invitation to the park, offering an uninterrupted view once opened. The existing building’s units were diversified through retrofitting and upward roof extensions, alternating stories to propose larger apartments with three bedrooms, increased window-to-wall ratio, balconies, and spacious living areas.
The project aims to create a vibrant and inclusive community within the neighbourhood through thoughtful design, including alternative housing layouts and communal spaces.
