The Loading Bay Skatepark: Reception, shop, and cafe space.
Glasgow’s first indoor skatepark, The Loading Bay, was an industrial building in poor condition that has been turned into a mixed-use facility for skaters and a variety of street-style sports. The building is repurposed and transformed by the ramp work of Vision Ramps, the architectural vision of Ruari Gardiner, and the interior design of Mara Bragagnolo.
Having complete creative freedom within the project allowed me to express how skateboarding translated into interior design, through my personal experience and perspective. I had the chance to change the way skateboarding spaces are perceived, challenging the stereotypical look by using delicate colours and playing with shapes inspired by the movement and structure of skateboarding. I’ve designed the space to be playful and adaptable for the broad customers that will use it: kids, parents, young adults, and skaters.
The materials used in the construction of the skatepark, plywood and concrete, extend into the cafe and reception area. Using similar shapes and construction methods to those found in the park unified these two spaces. A lot of the skate obstacles intersect with each other to create more interesting shapes to skate. I wanted to keep the same concept for this space by designing a lot of intersecting furniture, creating different levels and perspectives. Other than the decorative point of view of this design, the different heights and levels were purposely designed to make the desks and counters accessible in a way that these details not only made the design more user-friendly but also added value to the design aesthetic and balance.
The use of pastel colours was intended to make the space more welcoming, since they are inherently calming, especially for people who might find these environments sensory - overloading. In contrast, the darker tones were inspired by the colour found in the construction details of the original building.
Interior Design: Mara Bragagnolo
Architecture: Ruari Gardiner
Skatepark Design and Construction: Vision Ramp
Construction: Vision Ramp
Concrete Construction: Charlie Myatt
Photography: Jonny Ashworth