Brutal Glasgow, with Rachel Loughran and Natalie Tweedie

If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk

This week we explore Glasgow's love-hate relationship with brutalism and discuss our upcoming Brutal Glasgow exhibition with digital curator Rachel Loughran and Glasgow based illustrator Nebo Peklo (Natalie Tweedie), who’s work will be displayed in the interactive, multimedia exhibition.

The idea for the exhibition arose from Rachel's admiration of Natalie's drawings on Twitter, and united by their shared interest in brutalism they have come together to create Brutal Glasgow. They also discuss the significance of brutalism in Glasgow, touching on its artistic, social, and political aspects, and the debate over whether to demolish or restore such buildings

Rachel and Natalie emphasise the personal and emotional connections people have with these buildings, how they change over time, and their potential for renewal and hope.

Highlights:

1. 00:00:00 - 00:00:03 Rachel Loughran starts by discussing the public's "knee jerk reaction" to Brutalist buildings, setting the tone for the episode.
2. 00:19:42 - 00:19:43 Natalie Tweedie acknowledges the complexity of evaluating Brutalist architecture, saying, "That's such a huge question," indicating the depth of the discussion.
3. 00:40:12- 00:40:15 The conversation touches on the need to "have a proper look" at Brutalism and the factors surrounding it, suggesting a deeper exploration of the topic.
4. 01:00:07 - 01:00:09 There’s a personal reflection on exploring Glasgow, particularly the East End, highlighting how Brutalist architecture influences perceptions of different city areas.
5. 01:19:21 - 01:19:24 The episode concludes with a mention of Glasgow Heritage, encapsulating the importance of the city’s architectural legacy and the podcast's role in preserving these discussions.

Key Moments

• Complexities of Brutalism - polarising views.
• The historical and cultural significance and value in preserving these buildings.
• How the architectural style of Brutalism connects to a broader understanding of Glasgow city's character and history.
• Focus on Glasgow Heritage, emphasising the significance of the city's architectural legacy

Learn more:

• Check out Natalie’s work on her website
• Follow Glasgow City Heritage Trust on social media: @GlasgowHeritage #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk
• Produced by Inner Ear (innerear.co.uk) for Glasgow City Heritage Trust
• Sponsored by Tunnock's (tunnock.co.uk)