A Glass of Memory aims to create a hybrid landscape of closed-loop urban ecological systems, based on the principles of industrial ecology, giving a prominent role to the reclamation of water within a restored urban ecosystem. The project focuses on the transformation of a vacant brownfield site along the River Clyde waterfront adjacent to Clydeside Distillery. This contemporary building incorporates the Pump House, an important Glasgow landmark and monument to the city’s industrial and dockland heritage. The designed distillery landscape will act as a prototype to the restoration of a forgotten urban waterfront landscape to one that provides cultural opportunities for Glasgow residents and its visitors. The project will provide a framework for the creation of designed semi-natural habitats which support an increase in biodiversity alongside future urban developments. It will demonstrate good practice for the transformation of an urban waterfront towards a more resilient, sustainable and productive space. At the same time, it will provide a place that provokes memories of Glasgow’s industrial heritage and Scottish natural landscapes, a space for cultural events, as well as shaping the waterfront into a more sculptural form that provides a more accessible and inclusive public realm. This design will create an innovative landscape, one that will inspire further inspirational development along the River Clyde to the benefit of humans and more-than-humans.

Part 1
Storytelling
No water city

Part 2
A glass of memory
and
Glasgow

The danger of climate change for the Scotch Whisky industry
According to SEPA (2020) the Scotch Whisky distilling industry will not survive without adequate supplies of clean water and that due to projected climate change impacts a regular supply of water cannot be guaranteed. The Scottish Whisky Association (2020) are having to contribute to the mitigation of future climate change impacts by redeveloping their distilleries into more sustainable buildings powered by renewable energy and where all their waste products are either recycled or reused, including the reclamation of water.

Genius loci of Glasgow and inspirations from the site

Site inventory

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Topography and landmarks

Master plan

Blue dynamic

Freshwater & rooftop management and spatial programmes

Topsoil farming on the rooftop and rainwater harvesting under the ground / autumn view

Freshwater management in summer view

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Ecological jetty zone / bio-remediation terrace and swimming pool

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Ecological fish nursery zone / a life in the water

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Green dynamic

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The planting design strategy is based on the eight tastes that constitute the Scotch Whisky Taste Wheel (Malt, 2015) with eight Scottish habitats assigned to each of the eight tastes. These habitats are the archetypes from which the planting characteristics are used to create designed plant communities. They are the result of applying contemporary ecological science to planting design, with the aim of maximizing their sustainability without neglecting the aesthetic and functional needs of the users of the urban distillery landscape.
The designed plant communities have been adapted to fit in with the closed-loop specified within industrial ecology theory by specifying plants that are used as the raw materials for the whisky distillation process and/or provide functional programmes such as urban farming and low-impact tourism. For instance, growing barley crops within grassland habitats and using Scottish lowland cattle as part of the sustainable maintenance of the forb-rich grasslands. A traditional orchard and sub-shrub communities provide fruit for the community centre.
The planting strategy is flexible, adaptable and will result in dynamic and vibrant planting schemes that provide functional cultural programs whilst supporting a greater range of biodiversity within an extensive mosaic of designed habitats. It is used to provoke a strong emotional response in visitors whilst providing an opportunity for them to connect with nature. The planting scheme will create a distinct Scotch Whisky atmosphere based on the memories inherent in the layers found on the site.

Planting Design Strategy

Mosaic of designed habitats framework

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Seasonality and butterfly & bird-friendly framework

Shade analysis for ground level planting

Ground level planing composition

Programmes and activities

Wet Meadow Road Buffer Garden / SuDS retention pond / Inclusive access

Site is in-between an A road and an electric car charging station in front of the Science Museum.

Main path / Art walking

The main path is between the barley meadow at the beginning of the rooftop and the community area. This space supports local artists as an open-air gallery is also beneficial by improving the space for low-impact tourism.

Ecological fish nursery area at night / River Clyde waterfront / Time-proof space

The sculptural lighting system is made by recycling whisky bottle with a solar panel on the top. The artistic form of the sculptural lighting system in the space encourages less antisocial activities at night with night programmes such as watching water ecology, observing stars, and the beauty of the streetlight’s sculptural form.

Community centre / Community distillery / Weatherproof area

The community activity area provides opportunities for experiencing the distillation process, social engagement, and education of the site history, importance of water management, and nature-based management solutions (urban cattle grazing/SuDS)

Water HAHA Garden / SuDS retention pond

This is at the junction between the woodland beside the Science Museum and the rooftop. Urban cattle cannot go beyond this point preventing overgrazing and escape into the public area around the Science Museum.

Bioswale linkage to Water HAHA Garden / Rainwater harvesting

Harvested rainwater is an important resource collected for barley meadow farming, drinking water, whisky distillation, site management, urban cattle and other more-than-humans.
Spontaneous plants community blends to barely meadow.

Woodland seating area in autumn

This is at the entrance of the ‘A Glass of Memory’ Park. The area is an excellent welcoming space for introducing visitors to the unique experience of a public space offering a chance to connect with nature and witness the changing colours of each of the different seasons.

Whisky Taste Garden / Orchard Garden

This garden is at the right side of the entrance to the Clydeside Distillery. The area introduces visitors to the different tastes of whisky represented by the different types of fruit trees.

Toward future

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Green & blue area expansion and linkage

Urban cattle grazing zone expansion (a new type of urban public park management)

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Ecological succession

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Part 1 Storytelling No water city

Part 2 A glass of memory and Glasgow