Date: 11 September 07
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The future of the M8 Motorway is at the centre of the M8-PARK proposals by G..R.A.S. (Groves Raines Architects Studio), of Glasgow with David van Zelm van Eldik of Routeontwerp, The Hague and John Crawford of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow. The motorway, which currently provides a fast link between Glasgow and Edinburgh has disenfranchised many of the communities between the two cities, so the group propose to turn it into a “slow” transport link at the heart of a susaintiable PARK stretching across the length of the central belt.
A series of complementary fast rail links then reintegrate the disenfranchised communities. “As the main centres for culture and economy, Edinburgh and Glasgow inevitably attract the majority of inward investment,” says Stuart Falconer of G.R.A.S.. “With their growing prosperity has come a concentration of socio-economic power in the city areas and led to the decline of intervening communities.”
M8 PARK proposes four major ‘shifts’ in the years between 2007 and 2057. At a political level the Central Belt towns create a central point of governance and greater collaboration enables improved access to resources. Transport policy changes to create a fast rail links between the two great cities and the area of the PARK is circled by a further network of fast trains linking the towns of the Central Belt; Glasgow and Edinburgh become West and East terminals of one national airport linked by “Maglev” trains, and all public transport becomes free. The Landscape is redeveloped. New forests are planted on wastelands to offer raw material for manufacture, fuel and oxygen; new high level reservoirs provide hydro power and leisure facilities; populations shift out of the M8 corridor to existing surrounding towns and new centres. Socially a redistribution of resources and infrastructure leads to a redefinition of urban centre. Recreation becomes a more significant part of life in the Central Belt. Industry and investment shifts towards local initiatives such as tourism, transport, recreation, agriculture and healthy living, resulting in reduced dependency on imported produce and services. The regenerated landscape attracts tourism investment to the whole of the Central Belt and the efficiency of transport systems allows for easy redistribution of population as socio-economic demands change patterns of development.
The Propositions
GRAS - M8-PARK
Cadell2 - The Counter Tectonics
VD&B - Sloap Shifts
Collective Architecture - The Muckle Canal
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