My proposal for a new Town Hall at the threshold of Fort William explores how civic architecture can operate as both social infrastructure and as a form of landscape-attuned assembly. The project responds to the site’s dual condition as an arrival point and a connective threshold, using its stepped form to draw visitors from the underpass up into the High Street.

Within the proposal, circulation becomes an experiential device: a gradual ascent from the sheltered microclimate of the trees toward expansive views of Loch Linnhe and the surrounding mountains. This experience aims to create a connection to Fort William’s wider landscape and highlights its role as an active civic presence. This idea is enhanced by the structural system, which filters sunlight and guides orientation. Alongside this, the massing and interiors draw upon the contours of Cow Hill. Cast aluminium elements echo these forms, embedding the identity of Fort William into the building fabric itself.

In addition, the Town Hall’s programme is organised to encourage conviviality and everyday use. An open-plan ground floor merges café and foyer to create a public living room for residents and visitors alike. Double-height volumes and visual transparency between administrative, educational, and public rooms encourage openness in civic processes and enable natural encounters between users. Furthermore, outdoor terraces extend these functions into the landscape, providing informal learning and gathering spaces. Through these strategies, the project positions the Town Hall as a civic and ecological connector, strengthening community life while celebrating the terrain that defines Fort William.