What if...? Town’s wishes come true
Buddies team up with architects and designers for project
Paisley and its stunning architecture will feature in a new exhibition at the V&A Dundee museum.
It is called What if...?/ Scotland and explores the relationship communities have with their built environment.
The project, commissioned by the Scotland + Venice partnership, is the creation of Edinburgh- based 7N architects together with Architecture and Design Scotland, Scotland’s design agency, and a number of local partners.
Initially started in 2019, it paired five local people from Paisley with five architects and designers to discuss how they would improve the spaces where they live and what their hopes, wishes and aspirations for the future are.
The designer responded to the wishes of the people by proposing a way to make their hopes a reality – asking What if…?/.
The process was recorded by filmmaker Basharat Khan.
The exhibition of the wishes, alongside the films, were initially prepared for the Scotland + Venice exhibition for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2020, which is the world’s leading architecture exhibition.
However, with the 2020 exhibition postponed and uncertainty around travel in 2021 due to the on-going Covid- 19 pandemic, the organisers were able to adapt the exhibition to premiere at V&A Dundee.
In Paisley, residents Alison Love, Gillian Steel,Johannes Gonani, Dr Valerie Wright and Linzi Clark discussed a number of areas they’d like to see developed.
They want to see buildings and areas that had fallen into disrepair restored and they want to find new ways to allow all the citizens of Paisley the opportunity to gather and take part.
They also discussed the High Street and how it could be revitalised so that future generations could have pride in their town.
Buddie Alison met with architect Graeme Nicholls to discuss accessibility.
Alison uses a wheelchair and, although she is very independent, her choices on where she visits and what she does are dependent on the availability of accessible toilets.
She loves Paisley’s green spaces and would like to see Fountain Gardens developed to include a performance space for the community, with facilities accessible for all.
New resident Johannes teamed up with retired architect Anne Duff to look at the river and how it was such a vital part of Paisley’s past.
They discussed using some of the redundant land by the riverside to develop a thriving area to attract new business and entrepreneurs.
Johannes said he feels Paisley is a welcoming place and, as many different nationalities have made the town their home, a place to meet and integrate would be a positive addition.
Together, they worked on a riverside regeneration plan, including space for new businesses and a place for the community to gather, work and live.
Local businesswoman Gillian showed architect Gerry Grams around the High Street area.
Gillian wants to encourage small local businesses and independent retailers to set up, in particular ones related to Paisley’s rich textile and design heritage.
She wants to ensure that the skills of these industries are taught to future generations.
Gill ian and Gerry discussed how empty units could be used and also looked at ways of repopulating the town centre.
Stuart McMillan, regeneration manager at Renfrewshire Council, said: “What was evident to Paisley in 2019 was that the future of our places are best secured, for us all, with dialogue and understanding between architects, designers and local people.
“Now, in 2021, having moved through a dramatic year, this dynamic - that engages with local perspectives from the citizens of a place - can now help places to recover and build new resilience.
“How we wi l l live together is one of the most pertinent questions for us as we move out of pandemic restrictions.”
Four other communities are involved - Elgin, Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, Annan and Lerwick.
Dundee will be added in time for the opening at the V&A.
As well as themes individual to the local communities, there were many overarching themes of regeneration of lost and iconic buildings, the issues of closed shops in high streets, community spirit, pride in local areas and how to create a meeting space that’s accessible to everyone.
In addition to the five films, there will be an interactive installation called the Cloud of Dreams, where anyone attending the exhibition can submit their wish for their place.
Ewan Anderson, of 7N Architects, said: “It’s interesting that even prior to a year in lockdown, community and spaces to gather and meet were of common importance throughout Scotland.”
Entry to the exhibition is free and it runs from May 22 to November 21.
To book tickets, go to the website www. vam. ac. uk/ dundee