What if…?/Scotland responds to the Biennale’s theme How will we live together?, seeking to re-engage the civic role of architects and designers by asking citizens from across Scotland to share their hopes and dreams for the future of the places they call home. 7N paired 25 people from 5 places across Scotland with 25 designers, architects, and artists – to share their hopes and dreams for the future of the place where they live. The architects and designers then used these wishes to begin exploring imaginative ideas in response to the community challenges being faced.
About the Exhibition
Participants in Annan workshop, collaborating with Beautiful Materials to explore the High Street. Image by Bash Art Creative
7 April 2021 — Commission Announcement
Commissioned by the Scotland + Venice Partnership and curated by Glasgow International On behalf of the Scotland + Venice partnership, Creative Scotland is delighted to announce that Alberta Whittle has been commissioned to represent Scotland at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia with an exhibition of new work at the Arsenale Docks, S. Read more
image: Alberta Whittle by Matthew A Williams
We are delighted to see the return of Glasgow International with events at venues across Glasgow and online opening today. As our curatorial partners for Scotland + Venice 2022, we have seen first hand the challenges that GI has had to overcome to bring the festival back safely. Read more
At the opening of What if...?/Scotland on 21 May, President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Christina Gaiger gave these remarks, reflecting on the civic role of architecture and Scotland's architecture on the global stage. I'd like to start off today by talking a little bit about the international recognition of Scottish architecture. Read more
What if…?/Scotland films on show at the V+A Dundee (Image by Alan Richardson)
What if…?/Scotland worked with citizens, designers and architects to explore hopes and possibilities for their places asking about their wishes for their place. Reflective and immersive, the five films by Bash Art Creative, are now available online. Read more
What If…?/Scotland, photo by Alan Richardson, Pix-Ar
People from across Scotland will showcase their hopes, dreams and ideas for their local areas in a post-pandemic world at Scotland’s design museum. Since the beginning of 2020, 30 people of all ages, from Annan, Edinburgh, Elgin, Dundee, Lerwick and Paisley- have worked with designers, architects and artists to reflect on the place they call home for an exhibition opening this week at V&A Dundee. Read more
Citizens of Dundee working with Architects for What if…?/Scotland (Image by Lydia Smith)
In this blog Jim MacDonald, Chief Executive, Architecture and Design Scotland reflects on how our places have changed during a year of lockdown and adaptation. I think it’s fair to say, the Covid-19 pandemic has been the biggest shock to our systems in generations, and despite the vaccine and an easing of lockdown, it is set to have a lasting impact on our lives. Read more
Alan Thomson Harbour Development Officer, Jordan McCrae, Collective Architecture, Nicola Atkinson, Beautiful Materials Design Studio and Calum McDougall worked together in early 2020 to add their hopes, wishes and ideas for Annan to What if…?/Scotland (Image by Bash Art Creative)
If you want to explore any of the themes in the What if...?/Scotland exhibition further, here is a list of relevant resources and tools. The Place Standard The Place Standard tool provides a simple framework to structure conversations about place. Read more
