School of Design / MDes Interior Design / Maxine Merryll Panlilio / Fragrance of Memory – A Tea Tasting Room at Unit 407, Sauchiehall Street

Fragrance of Memory – A Tea Tasting Room at Unit 407, Sauchiehall Street

The project becomes a juxtaposition between a sea of nightclubs and pubs along Sauchiehall Street. It reframes entertainment as a refuge, allowing for reflective nostalgia as a way for mental restoration. It revolves around Proust’s idea of nostalgia and shattered memories as a grounding appreciation of life, Kaplan’s restoration theory, and Fincham’s and Debord’s idea of agency and spectacle, respectively.

The tea tasting room explores whether slowness and restoration can become legitimate forms of entertainment along Sauchiehall Street. “Fragrance of Memory” anchors scent as an architectural driver, challenging the street’s dominating visual and auditory stimuli. The design aimed to support ideas of soft fascinations to visualize spectacle and escapism. The scent mapping and the sensorial visits strengthen the connection between the site and the street through actualizing sensory experiences. However, the project revealed challenges, mainly in visualizing scent, as it can be subjective and temporary, and in showing the spectacle and relaxation side by side.

Ultimately, the project showcased an aspect of entertainment that is quiet and reflective, requiring attentiveness rather than intensity. The challenges encountered can be avenues for exploration. Finally, “Fragrance of Memory” explores entertainment not only as a destination but also as a presence, a refuge, and a personal connection for everyone.

kelvingrove park mapping

Scanned trees in Kelvingrove park using polycam

Nostalgia experience

Scent Mapping along Sauchiehall Street during the morning of October 17, 2025

Scent Mapping along Sauchiehall Street during the afternoon of October 17, 2025

Facade of the tea room when it' is newly built
weathered facade of the tea room
Rammed Earth wall when it is newly built
Rammed Earth wall when it has weathered

lighting during autumn for the tea room

lighting during spring for the tea room

lighting during summer for the tea room

lighting during winter for the tea room