Many Studios, The Barras

The Barras is an area, ten minutes walk to the east of Glasgow's city centre, with a history (and reputation) that precedes it.

The Barrowlands Market, and Barrowlands Ballroom, hold a special place in the collective conscious of the city. As times and trade have changed, the area has been redefining its identity and future life. The area has been a point of curiosity for our practice since day one. Our first studio, in 2011, was located in the heart of the market and The Barras is where our Glasgow office is based today, at Many Studios.

The Charlie’s Market building on Ross Street is somewhat shrouded in myth. Depending on who you ask, it has, at one time or another, served as a carpet factory, a garage, a women’s refuge, and a soap factory.

In 2013 we partnered with a local landlord to develop the building. We secured funding from Glasgow City Council through their pilot Floorspace Grant scheme. This project, Many Studios, was one of four projects within the area benefiting from this scheme.

Many Studios is a creative hub, home to over 60 artists and creative practitioners. For us, the project was representative of the kind of work that we wanted to be delivering - a clear statement about who we are as a practice.

Our approach to the redevelopment of the building was strategic, resourceful, and thoughtful. With a modest budget we ensured that the building was safe, warm and functional. We repurposed the existing staircase, rotating it 90 degrees. Budget was dedicated to allow for the installation of large windows out on to the street - inviting people to look in. Above all we wanted to build a sense of permeability into the fabric of the building.

We wanted to counter the cliche of a creative organisation moving into an 'edgy' part of town. By fully allowing the building to become part of the street, hosting markets, exhibitions, and film screenings, Many Studios expands far beyond the building that contains it.

Within The Barras self reliant and informal structures exist, that do not necessarily conform to the structures and guidelines for the rest of the city. As such there is a degree of mistrust towards council funded and managed work. Our role was often to act as a translator between the formal and informal.

In the run up to the opening of Many Studios we hosted The Barras Banquet - inviting members of the community to join us for a theatrical dining event on the street alongside decision makers, local and high level organisations to discuss the change process, and to share memories of the area.

As tenants of Many Studios for nine years we are determined to actively inhabit the area, seeking out opportunities and initiating projects to link together new and existing communities. The following activation programmes were delivered in collaboration with Many Studios and its community: