Just like in Ireland, across the UK people are seeing a decline in their towns and retail centres, with retailers closing and more and more vacant spaces appearing on main streets and high streets. While The Architecture Foundation in London have been reactivating shopfronts on Willesden Green, Architecture + Design Scotland open their High Street exhibition in the Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Centre for Architecture, Design & the City in Glasgow. In Scotland the High Street began as a market place, a hub of social activity – busy, raucous and messy. This exhibition shows their evolution, Scotland’s changing shops and shopping habits and the impact this has had today. Specially commissioned films gather people’s stories of the High Street, from butchers and bakers to professors and planners. It looks to the future with remedies that make High Streets good value, vital in creating unique and thriving places.

For more information on High Street, which runs until 17 April, visit A+DS