DUNDEE, UK

Academic | Archive & Research Centre

Dundee, Scotland | 2011

BRIEF

A new historical hub reactivates a once-thriving industrial quarter of Dundee. 

The project is conceived within a moment of urban transition, where the layers of industrial memory intersect with contemporary civic life. Referencing the reconstruction of Chiado in Lisbon by Álvaro Siza, it investigates how architecture can mediate between preservation and reinvention. The comparison between this realised intervention and a speculative proposal becomes a tool for understanding how shifts in conservation strategies can redefine both spatial experience and social value. 

Located at the High Mill, the design engages directly with the city’s industrial legacy. Its architectural expression adopts an austere, almost ‘brutal’ language, with masonry conveying permanence, weight, and the enduring presence of labour. This intensity is carefully offset through the introduction of timber, which softens the material palette and establishes a dialogue between past and present, industry and inhabitation. 

At its core, the proposal is an archive—redefined as an active civic institution rather than a static repository. It consolidates significant collections of genealogical, local, and cultural records while promoting accessibility and new forms of engagement. Integrated study spaces and accommodation for visiting researchers extend its function beyond storage, fostering continuous occupation and exchange. 

The project ultimately frames architecture as a vessel for memory—where material, space, and programme work together to reconnect the city with its past while supporting its evolving civic identity. 

By establishing a historical and cultural centre for Dundee, the project seeks to:

• Rediscover a lost layer of the city’s history

• Regenerate a neglected urban area

• Reconstruct a renewed civic identity

• Increase accessibility to unique historical material, fostering greater public awareness

This is achieved through the provision of:

• A purpose-built archive store

• Dedicated spaces for genealogical research

• A paper conservation studio

• Exhibition spaces for both permanent and temporary collections

• Educational and interactive facilities, including classrooms, workshops, and a cinema

• Architecturally distinct spaces that reinforce identity and memory

• Retail environments, including food and literature, supporting public engagement

[Bachelor of Architecture thesis at the University of Dundee]

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BACKGROUND