Yu Zhai
Yu Zhai
A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL “URBAN LIVING ROOM”
This design research focuses on a strategic plot at the heart of Glasgow’s Southside:
the intersection of Bridge Street and Eglinton Street. Historically serving as the
southern gateway to Glasgow’s city center, this site has witnessed a temporal
transition from industrial expansion to modern urban renewal. Today, the site sits at
a critical transition zone where the Central Business District (CBD) extends
southward, its spatial logic shaped by the convergence of railway infrastructure,
major arterial roads, and historical architectural remnants. It is not merely a
geographic junction, but a focal point where the city’s heritage fabric intersects with
emerging urban forces.
As can be seen from the map, the site is located at the intersection of several cultural, educational, and transportation hubs: to the west is O2 Academy Glasgow, an important music and performance venue; to the north is Bridge Street subway station and bus hub, indicating excellent public transportation accessibility; to the northeast are important municipal and religious facilities such as Glasgow Sheriff Court, Glasgow Central Mosque, and the City of Glasgow College Riverside campus; and to the southeast are Citizens Theatre and a newly built apartment community
Within Glasgow's main urban area, I have listed and marked all the libraries, ranging from large, comprehensive libraries to localized community facilities, including public libraries, university libraries, and various smaller libraries and community amenities. My research revealed that most libraries, museums, galleries, and exhibition halls are located on the north side of the River Clyde, as well as Glasgow's largest public library, Mitchell Library. On the south side of the River Clyde, there are only four small libraries, and not many cultural facilities, commercial buildings, or civic buildings.
