MARK MAKERS 2016 - 2020
Project Management, Community Development + Community Self Build work that led to the establishment of a Community Common and its hand over to local residents.
WHAT
Highlighting and securing Planning permission for Abandoned Neglected + Detrimental Land in an area displaying some of the worst aspects of they Scottish Index of Multi Deprivation ( SIMD ) and in this corner of East Pollokshields in Central Glasgow - Deprivation in green space, tenement breakout space and a place to seek help.
HOW
Through 2 rounds of Architecture + Design Scotland - "Making Places " Funding
the views of the local population of approx 2500 people and 200 hundred buildings ( mainly tenements ) were gaged .
Practice director - Andrew McAvoy then took up the role as joint Project Manager + Community Development Manager and impeded himself in the Charity - The Pollokshields Trust and the physical space.
With the the Communities views recorded -some headway was made in the areas of Community Growing space, shelter, play out space and safer use of the Ex Kingston Bowling Club until end of 2020.
In 2018 we provided a narrative for the " Aspiring Communities " Project Fund offered by the European Social Fund and administer by Scottish Government.
Phase 1 was completed successfully in 2018 and awaited a restart and Phase 2 which began in Autumn 2019 lasting till Auigust 2020
Community participation was stalled in early March 2020 due to the emergence of Corona Virus allowing for further improvements to the garden and structures.
Bringing the possibility for Community generated Architecture into the project allowed for the creation of shelter and discussion space and involvement was built throughout Phase 2 via - The Pollokshields " YAP ".
A series of informal Community Dinners where what was happening locally ( good and bad ) was discussed.
PHYSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The former Rose garden was prepared as a temporary site for shipping Container accommodation via Glasgow City Councils - "Stalled Spaces" Programme.
A Shipping Container for temporary use as storage and kitchen was provided at cost By Malcolm's Haulage + Distribution.
Placement of basic temporary services to allow for the short term project ending at 31st December 2020 were installed.
Namely Mains Water , Mains electric and a connection to the Cities Sewer.
A seasonal cafe was fitted out to facilitate seasonal project specific gatherings such as annual Celebration of all things Green - Ready Steady Grow
WHO
These installations were undertaken by some key people partly working for the Trust and commonly Volunteering.in spare time amidst part time Contracts.
Glasgow Art School Technician Russel Lamb acting as Volunteer C0-ordinator
Graduate Architecture Student's - RIBA Part 2 - Barbara Veccione + Pavel Pavlov
Artist / Photographer - Julia Bauer
Film Maker Basharat Khan
Community Engagement was enhanced by the presence of Tabassum Naimat
Physical graft and volunteering proved very difficult as many tasks were heavy graft and dirty - Of worthy note in process were
Sammy + Rowan + Sarah + Huda
Pond building and Tree Planting - Holly McAvoy + Rachel Henery .
For Phase 1 activity and achievements in saving the Bowling green momentarily for Community use. - see
Mark Makers Phase 1 - " Making Places " Report
The community Context was later elaborated to take in areas outwith the former Bowling Green.
These focussing on :-
A safer surrounding streetscape.
Community Energy
Community Land and security
For Phase 2 achievements - see Mark Makers Phase 2 - "Making Places" Report
From October 2019 to August 2020 the Aspiring Communities Project was completed successfully and enabled the community to take control of the space.
We left a Master plan in place that positioned all the key demountable components requested by the Community through the consultations in the hope that the Project space might be futurised by further permissions to use and a catch up on any necessary Building permissions.
On completion we left a clear delineation between unusable indoor space requiring of upgrade if Project was to continue and safe indoor space able to cope with the ongoing Pandemic .
Everything that was used in the Project under the practices gaze was sourced Sustainably and mostly from skips and local Tenement refurb cast offs.
Over 12 months we hand built a Conservatory space from Second hand windows donated by Mary Hill Housing Association.
We created with Volunteer help - the raised, growing beds, garden structure .and planting arrangements .
We designed and ordered ancillary structures such as Poly Tunnels and open sided Marquees which were not erected due to Covid.
All Georgian bricks, doors, tiles and floor boards were carefully removed from the home of Mrs Harriet Maclaren ( Mrs Mac) resident of Pollokshields, who passed away in 2018
In homage to her generosity of spirit - a pair of decorative panels made from Mrs Mac's doors were made bespoke for the breakfast bar...." Nothing must be wasted "
Although the Mark Makers project came to an end and the Ex Kingston Bowling Clubs future is uncertain - it provided worthy break out space for the intended project time scale allowed for by " Aspiring Communities "
JOB
Sadly in September 2020 some of the careful work undertaken with Mrs Mac's gift of Material was brutally vandalised and including the Decorative Panels made from Mrs Mac's Doors and locks..
That signalled the end of participation in the process.
However
As the Stalled Spaces Programme intimated - " A little space ... for a little time. " had been provided.
OTHER DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Though The Pollokshields YAP's we established the conversation and lose format of the Community management team to take the project forward.
Under our guise and in the role of Project Managers of the Mark Makers project we facilitated the long term goals of Glasgow Cycling Charity - Soul Riders in providing them a footing for their " Revolutionise Project " via a Storage Container. within Mark Maker's
+
Through early engagement with Local energy Scotland and Board membership, we enabled the Pre registration for OFF Gems - Community FEED IN TARIFF ( FIT ) for a number of local Buildings .
Despite COVID we helped to achieve the installation of a 40 KW Solar Panel Installation on the roof of Glendale Primary school - to be managed by Glasgow Community Energy + which we hope will result in a loco focussed
Community Share offer in Renewable Energy in spring 2021.
If you walk North down Kenmure Street and find the entry to the Ex Kingston Bowling Club signalled by Mrs Mac's Botanical Fireplace tiles - then a fitting invitation to enter might still to be found.
OBSERVATION
Interest in this role started with early involvement in 2015 in Consultations on the Community Empowerment Scotland Act
and in particular the emerging Community Right to Purchase - provisions.
QUESTION
Can the Communities wish for retention of a large piece of Urban land ,be matched with the effort required to sustain it ?
( + Outwith the ever diminishing circle of project funding.)
In September 2020 Glasgow's - Urban Roots took over the running of a volunteer Programme around further establishment of the green space.
WHAT
Highlighting and securing Planning permission for Abandoned Neglected + Detrimental Land in an area displaying some of the worst aspects of they Scottish Index of Multi Deprivation ( SIMD ) and in this corner of East Pollokshields in Central Glasgow - Deprivation in green space, tenement breakout space and a place to seek help.
HOW
Through 2 rounds of Architecture + Design Scotland - "Making Places " Funding
the views of the local population of approx 2500 people and 200 hundred buildings ( mainly tenements ) were gaged .
Practice director - Andrew McAvoy then took up the role as joint Project Manager + Community Development Manager and impeded himself in the Charity - The Pollokshields Trust and the physical space.
With the the Communities views recorded -some headway was made in the areas of Community Growing space, shelter, play out space and safer use of the Ex Kingston Bowling Club until end of 2020.
In 2018 we provided a narrative for the " Aspiring Communities " Project Fund offered by the European Social Fund and administer by Scottish Government.
Phase 1 was completed successfully in 2018 and awaited a restart and Phase 2 which began in Autumn 2019 lasting till Auigust 2020
Community participation was stalled in early March 2020 due to the emergence of Corona Virus allowing for further improvements to the garden and structures.
Bringing the possibility for Community generated Architecture into the project allowed for the creation of shelter and discussion space and involvement was built throughout Phase 2 via - The Pollokshields " YAP ".
A series of informal Community Dinners where what was happening locally ( good and bad ) was discussed.
PHYSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The former Rose garden was prepared as a temporary site for shipping Container accommodation via Glasgow City Councils - "Stalled Spaces" Programme.
A Shipping Container for temporary use as storage and kitchen was provided at cost By Malcolm's Haulage + Distribution.
Placement of basic temporary services to allow for the short term project ending at 31st December 2020 were installed.
Namely Mains Water , Mains electric and a connection to the Cities Sewer.
A seasonal cafe was fitted out to facilitate seasonal project specific gatherings such as annual Celebration of all things Green - Ready Steady Grow
WHO
These installations were undertaken by some key people partly working for the Trust and commonly Volunteering.in spare time amidst part time Contracts.
Glasgow Art School Technician Russel Lamb acting as Volunteer C0-ordinator
Graduate Architecture Student's - RIBA Part 2 - Barbara Veccione + Pavel Pavlov
Artist / Photographer - Julia Bauer
Film Maker Basharat Khan
Community Engagement was enhanced by the presence of Tabassum Naimat
Physical graft and volunteering proved very difficult as many tasks were heavy graft and dirty - Of worthy note in process were
Sammy + Rowan + Sarah + Huda
Pond building and Tree Planting - Holly McAvoy + Rachel Henery .
For Phase 1 activity and achievements in saving the Bowling green momentarily for Community use. - see
Mark Makers Phase 1 - " Making Places " Report
The community Context was later elaborated to take in areas outwith the former Bowling Green.
These focussing on :-
A safer surrounding streetscape.
Community Energy
Community Land and security
For Phase 2 achievements - see Mark Makers Phase 2 - "Making Places" Report
From October 2019 to August 2020 the Aspiring Communities Project was completed successfully and enabled the community to take control of the space.
We left a Master plan in place that positioned all the key demountable components requested by the Community through the consultations in the hope that the Project space might be futurised by further permissions to use and a catch up on any necessary Building permissions.
On completion we left a clear delineation between unusable indoor space requiring of upgrade if Project was to continue and safe indoor space able to cope with the ongoing Pandemic .
Everything that was used in the Project under the practices gaze was sourced Sustainably and mostly from skips and local Tenement refurb cast offs.
Over 12 months we hand built a Conservatory space from Second hand windows donated by Mary Hill Housing Association.
We created with Volunteer help - the raised, growing beds, garden structure .and planting arrangements .
We designed and ordered ancillary structures such as Poly Tunnels and open sided Marquees which were not erected due to Covid.
All Georgian bricks, doors, tiles and floor boards were carefully removed from the home of Mrs Harriet Maclaren ( Mrs Mac) resident of Pollokshields, who passed away in 2018
In homage to her generosity of spirit - a pair of decorative panels made from Mrs Mac's doors were made bespoke for the breakfast bar...." Nothing must be wasted "
Although the Mark Makers project came to an end and the Ex Kingston Bowling Clubs future is uncertain - it provided worthy break out space for the intended project time scale allowed for by " Aspiring Communities "
JOB
Sadly in September 2020 some of the careful work undertaken with Mrs Mac's gift of Material was brutally vandalised and including the Decorative Panels made from Mrs Mac's Doors and locks..
That signalled the end of participation in the process.
However
As the Stalled Spaces Programme intimated - " A little space ... for a little time. " had been provided.
OTHER DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Though The Pollokshields YAP's we established the conversation and lose format of the Community management team to take the project forward.
Under our guise and in the role of Project Managers of the Mark Makers project we facilitated the long term goals of Glasgow Cycling Charity - Soul Riders in providing them a footing for their " Revolutionise Project " via a Storage Container. within Mark Maker's
+
Through early engagement with Local energy Scotland and Board membership, we enabled the Pre registration for OFF Gems - Community FEED IN TARIFF ( FIT ) for a number of local Buildings .
Despite COVID we helped to achieve the installation of a 40 KW Solar Panel Installation on the roof of Glendale Primary school - to be managed by Glasgow Community Energy + which we hope will result in a loco focussed
Community Share offer in Renewable Energy in spring 2021.
If you walk North down Kenmure Street and find the entry to the Ex Kingston Bowling Club signalled by Mrs Mac's Botanical Fireplace tiles - then a fitting invitation to enter might still to be found.
OBSERVATION
Interest in this role started with early involvement in 2015 in Consultations on the Community Empowerment Scotland Act
and in particular the emerging Community Right to Purchase - provisions.
QUESTION
Can the Communities wish for retention of a large piece of Urban land ,be matched with the effort required to sustain it ?
( + Outwith the ever diminishing circle of project funding.)
In September 2020 Glasgow's - Urban Roots took over the running of a volunteer Programme around further establishment of the green space.
2017 - Planning Application - Re -establishing - Use Class of Land within Redline Area as Light Sport .+ Recreation. Approved
An Early Proposal drawing of what an End of Life Shipping Container might offer the 2 year Aspiring Communities Project.
