what we do
conceptual, strategic and development work in urbanism, community plans, strategic design, tourism, heritage and spatial planning
with whom
communities, agencies and individuals who provide value to civic society through improving quality of life, economy and environment
where
from city regions, sub-regions, cities, towns and neighbourhoods to rural areas and countryside, villages, hamlets, sites, plots and gardens
how
we work across the disciplines of architecture, urbanism, geography, landscape, economics, social sciences, ecology and public health
core themes
strategy first
Regardless of scale, every plan or project needs to have a strategic purpose – why is it being considered, how will it perform, what is its function and context, what are the benefits of doing it? This is as relevant for a regional plan as for a town centre or small civic space. Developing appropriate strategies is a key part of our work on every project.
working with communities
Developing positive ideas for change through working with residential, business and institutional communities is central to our work. We approach our work with distinct principles and methods but without preconceived ideas of outcomes. Our work in Glasgow, across Northern Ireland and in many other places embodies this.
restructuring the civic realm
Every city, town or village has a network of civic assets that should be cherished, improved and sometimes re-invented. These might range from public buildings, parks, transport nodes or civic spaces to bus stops and benches. We can help communities to develop networks of these riches into catalysts for change.
working with industry
Industry and renewables are critical components of Scotland’s future. We have worked recently with public agencies and the private sector on practical projects for the future, including a renewables pier development framework at Stromness, a proposed O+M base at Buckie and a new industry park at Dalgety Bay.
new approaches to streets
We have worked on alternative approaches to street design since 2004 in Renfrew town centre. With the Scottish Government’s Designing Streets advice, many Councils and communities are keen to change the way streets are used while others are hesitant. Our work in Kirkwall, Leven and Inverness represents positive change.
working with heritage
We work to make the most of heritage assets, especially through Townscape Heritage projects most recently in Stranraer, Kirkwall, Fraserburgh and Inverness. We look particularly at the street design aspects of this work, providing a more comfortable pedestrian environment and a better setting for important buildings.
current work
We are currently working on the following projects:
Lane Strategy for Glasgow City Council
A strategy for the development and management of the City Centre’s lanes
Three Towns Charrette, Ayrshire
Creating a long-term vision, strategy and action plan for Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston
Design Futures Festival
Feasibility study of a South East Ireland Design Futures Festival for DCCoI and Fáilte Ireland
Annan High Street Improvements
Working with local communities to strengthening the civic and commercial core of the town
portfolio
look at projects by subject area
clients and project locations
who we have worked with and where
recent work
Glasgow’s M74 Extension – a view from the road?
More than ten years into the 21st century it feels strange to be writing about a new urban motorway but just such an entity was opened to traffic in Glasgow in June 2011. The motorway connects the M74 from Carmyle to Tradeston and Kinning Park then to the M8 heading for Glasgow Airport…
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Health facilities and development planning
WMUD were appointed by Architecture and Design Scotland as part of the Inverness City Vision study to carry out a mapping exercise looking at the effect of local development planning approaches on the healthcare estate. – the integration of health facilities and development planning.
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Orkney Futures: New Futurism and the death of nostalgia
The idea that the future was exciting took hold in Orkney half a century ago, some years before the islands lost their World Heritage Site status. Around that time, Orkney experienced a growth in trading and super-technology and in common with the rest of an independent Scotland
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