Emily Grundy - Master of Architecture Stage 5

Designs from Master of Architecture student, Emily Grundy

Emily envisages a new waterfront for Torry, with open spaces along the river front and a vibrant esplanade to connect residents, the wider community of Aberdeen and tourists.

22 year-old Emily Grundy grew up in the small village of Auchenblae, close to Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire. She was initially attracted to The Scott School of Architecture because of the School’s impressive University rankings. An open day visit convinced her even more! She liked the modern design and layout of the campus, along with the open, light atmosphere which far exceeded any other university. She was also impressed by the diverse nature of projects at The Scott Sutherland School.

Emily’s Part Two project focuses on new Nigg Bay Harbour and how the removal of the original industrial harbour, which once defined Torry as a stuck and distant place, offers new hope for the area. Emily explains more:

“For my end of year project, I want to show how much potential Torry has. There are so many opportunities for live, work and play. I want to shine a new light over Torry in a way that not many people, other than the residents, know and to highlight the many possible paths of improvement.

“My proposal is to create an interactive environment along the river front and to develop creative open spaces that meander along a new, vibrant esplanade. I’ve designed a unique waterfront walkway along the River Dee, that would connect Torry to the water, through a playful expressive manner. I’ve readapted spaces and created lively, yet sensitive, open plan areas to draw the public, residents and tourists towards a newly expressed Torry waterfront.”

Architectural rendering of newly imagined Torry Waterfront

As for university life, Emily has fully immersed herself into RGU's Women’s Football team, joining the team as soon as she could in first year. She’s been playing ever since and in recent seasons, she and her team-mates won the Scottish Student Sport Conference Cup twice. That’s the biggest university female football competition in Scotland and this year, her team won the league.

With a year to go before she graduates, Emily feels she has a good foundation for her Part Three as she explains: “Taking on a project larger than we have done before, gives a sense of achievement. The design starts to take form and the concept can really be seen by others. The studio atmosphere at Scotts is fantastic. It gives you somewhere to work individually but still offers a supportive and social space, where I can work alongside my peers, which is encouraging.”