Connor Simmons

Cumbernauld is characterised best by the actions of its inhabitants. Their fates marked as they traverse a “faceless collection of houses and shops and retail parks, without any particular centre or identity”. This vision of a life defined by a non-centric and devoid environment is a stark forewarning. It highlights the integral importance of security in both self and place, emphasising their role in forming the bedrock upon which individual and urban identities are articulated.

“Identity gives us a location in the world and presents the link between us and the society in which we live...”

This project formulates a proposition based on the concept of identity and its relationship to the built environment. In this frame of reference, identity is divided into two elements: the first concerning the individual and the expression of self through a framework of choices, with the second relating to the collective and the framing of a local memory. Both operate simultaneously within a symbiotic relationship, working together towards the shared objective of instilling a sense of security. This raises the question: is there an architectural solution that secures the image of Cumbernauld and its inhabitants by facilitating individual choice as a framework for securing local memory?