Final year students at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen have presented initial proposals for a placemaking-led approach at the former Victoria Road Primary School in Torry, Aberdeen.

 

Centred on health and well-being as first principles the approach saw nine final year architecture students (Antony Cheung, Claire Milnes, Daniel Mattioli, Esther Qiu Qiu, Francesca Orizio, Kirileigh Fisher, Sophie Macaulay, Niamh Macfarlane and Pat Kong); invited to produce landscape and intergenerational design approaches through a series of workshops led by Scott Sutherland School of Architecture lecturer Dr Quazi Zaman and Stephanie Morrison, lecturer in occupational therapy.

 

These set out how the historic granite built school can play host to inclusive housing within attractive landscaped grounds which meet the needs of younger and older residents participation in daily life to promote and sustain health and well-being.

 

Zaman told Urban Realm: "Salutogenic intergenerational placemaking is an incipient trend and an antidote to the pathogenic social spaces that are ascribed to a traditional neighbourhood, which typically receive less investment and attention from stakeholders.

 

"Torry as a neighbourhood is a testament to persistent deprivation of modest social spaces manifested in a disused landscape, derelict buildings, adverse public realm, poor health outcomes and shortage of housing, especially for the elderly. In contrast, Torry is an area of rich cultural heritage and strong community identify which needs to be preserved."

 

Collaborators on the project included David Fryer of the Torry Development Trust; Gray’s School of Art (Professor Libby Curtis, and led by Professor Elizabeth Hancock) and RGU's Laura Chalmers, specialist in inter-professional learning.

The students work has been presented to Grampian Housing Association and David Murray Architects to influence the final plan.