The concept of retreat is to be tackled in a way that considers seclusion from a current lifestyle as synonymous with the introduction to a new and unknown one. As it is a retreat where each of twelve guests must interact musically and socially there need to be degrees of privacy to which each guest can retire. The delicate balance required for combining musical and social interaction can be strengthened by  the knowledge that there is a ‘safe’ place to which one can retreat to.

In considering the self-sufficiency of the brief this new lifestyle also requires a strict schedule; outlined not by colleagues or employers but by the daily and annual rhythms of the rural context. By connecting a building into the site such tasks can be facilitated and the yield of hard graft celebrated.

After analysing maps from 1850-90’s it was apparent that the narrow curvature of the street pattern was near-flush in the central town whith few breaks or gaps. The House of Music intends to partially revive the original street pattern of what is presently a green, but also provide the necessary open space in the city fabric for civic actrivities, events, orientation and meeting for both local residents and visitors. This will create two smaller squares and will enclose the existing pedestrianised street, South Strand. The modulation of the original completed-block is to create two linked squares, with the music ‘box’ creating a ‘pinch’ threshold at the castle. This alleviates the abutting of buildings on all sides that was evident before the 1967 demolition, giving the castle space to command at the historic and commercial centre of Stranraer.

The second square is more a semi-public plaza or event square and is closed at night. It also provides greater extension from the activity in the nearby streets whilst still maintaining important visual contact, creating a more stationary place to linger. This square is smaller and more enclosed than the existing ‘green’ and will be more easily maintained providing an attractive location and potent healing force at the town epicentre. Its more specific identity relating to the music house and cafe should provide the raison d’etre that is currently missing in the square. This musical function extends to accomodate the Stranraer’s renaissance as the ‘Music Town’ by hosting events such as the Dumfries and Galloway Music festival in its outdoor performance hall.

As a group we designed a proposal for 3 quadrants in Bridgeton to be transformed into a new live/work quarter. I was involved primarily in the overarching design of the masterplan and the making of a large 1:500 model. The final presentation was exhibited at the Lighthouse Centre for Architecture and Design in Glasgow.