Greater Pollok: After the Pandemic
The learn & grow briefs focus on creating outdoor learning experiences which focus on the history, culture and nature of Greater Pollok.
Design brief #1
Design a poster, a billboard or piece of signage about the history and culture of Greater Pollok.
Consider:
What materials are used to reflect the local area and how can you reuse and recycle materials to make this signage? Where would be the best place for this sculpture/interpretation panel to go?
Design brief #2
Create a piece of street art which highlights the local animals and nature found within Greater Pollok.
Consider:
Where would you put the mural or street art? Is there a wall in your local area that would benefit with a bit of colour? What animals, trees, plants and other features of the natural environment need celebrated within Greater Pollok?
The inclusive communities briefs focus on designing space which are accessible and inclusive, bringing different groups of people together.
Design brief #3
Design an outdoor park for teenage girls which is safe, inclusive and directly benefits their needs and requirements.
Consider:
Teenage girls have been adversely affected by the pandemic with little safe outdoor spaces to meet. Make Space for Girls is a charity focused on addressing this challenge. As such, can you identify spaces which would meet this requirement and what would be needed in the spaces to make them safe and inclusive, supporting the requirements of teenage girls.
Design brief #4
Create a ‘cultural festival’ which would celebrate the diversity of the local community and the people who live, work and play in Greater Pollok.
Consider:
What are the different cultures found within Greater Pollok and how can these be celebrated in a festival format? Is it traditional Scottish music, artists and performers or a ‘food festival’ bringing together the international cuisine made throughout the community? Where would the festival be held? Are there stages, activities, workshops, food trucks…?
The Local for global briefs focus around taking global ideas and applying them at a local level within Greater Pollok.
Design brief #5
Throughout the world streets are being adapted to be more pedestrian friendly, offering opportunities to sit, relax and meet others. What parts of Greater Pollok could benefit from more benches, spaces to meet or places to exercise – and what would these spaces look like?
Consider:
Tactical Urbanism is a movement that is taking place from Dundee and Aberdeen to Milan and Bogata. The Black Lives Matter mural along 16th Street in Washington DC is an example of this which uses ‘colour’ to make the street more vibrant, however, there are examples ranging from light installations and public artwork to street furniture and skate parks, which have activated pieces of land. What could these ‘installations’ look like within Greater Pollok and where would they be?
Recently, Dundee have done this in their city centre. What could these ‘installations’ look like within Greater Pollok and where would they be?
Design brief #6
A lot of our household resources are only used once or twice a month (think of a lawnmower, for example) and our skills could be used to help others – how might be better share resources across the Greater Pollok area for the benefit of everyone?
Consider:
Would this be a ‘sharing centre’? Is there more than one? What would be shared and how could this be Covid safe? How would the space function? Would it have a digital presence to ‘book tools out’? How would it be made accessible to all and a free service for the community?
A current example of this is done by Urban Roots and Greater Pollok Services; they provide gardening equipment while also providing training on how to use equipment.
The dear greenest space briefs focus around the landscape of Greater Pollok and how it can be more productive and contribute towards the betterment of residents mental and physical health.
Design brief #7
What pieces of vacant and derelict (or underused) land within Greater Pollok could be used for community food growing projects? Could this locally grown food then support local businesses (such as cafes) become more sustainable?
Consider:
What pieces of land within Greater Pollok could be used more productively and be transformed into community gardens or urban farms? Do these spaces grow vegetables and fruit? Can some of them be used to grow plants and trees which are known to help fight air pollution? Can farm animals be introduced to produce other locally sourced food?
Design brief #8
Design a series of walking and cycling routes throughout Greater Pollok which help people to move around the community without using a car, encouraging active travel instead.
Consider:
Which parts of Greater Pollok do you feel are disconnected? Are there particular roads which you feel are dangerous and could benefit from a pedestrian-first approach? Which routes through the community could act as heritage or nature trails, for example?
Recent example of this is an organisation called Paths for All who are exploring how best to work with local communities to design more accessible spaces and paths in Greater Pollok.
The design forward briefs focus on how art, design and creativity can play a role within the local community at a variety of levels.
Design brief #9
What if Greater Pollok was a ‘National Park’ – somewhere greener, healthier and wilder? How would you encourage local tourism from throughout Glasgow and the central belt to the local area.
Consider:
What natural assets does Greater Pollok have to make it a ‘national park’? The river, different types of animals, birds or insects…? How can these different natural elements be celebrated through design?
Design brief #10
The final brief is an Open Brief. What would you design (a space, a product, a place to play, a place to meet, a building…) to make life in Greater Pollok better?
Consider:
More green space, water (ponds/lakes)? More play parks? Reduction of cars and an increase in cycling/walking/skating etc.? More colour and lights in the streets?
To submit your response to the Greater Pollok Design School click on the button below or submit your response to info@afterthepandemic.scot
This project is developed by Lateral North, Colour Ways, Greater Pollok Artist in Residence and the Centre for Civic Innovation. The project is funded by the William Grant Foundation.