Delicate Hands
Delicate Hands
Wenbei Huang
Delicate Hand proposes a shared handcraft workshop where people can experience traditional craft-making in a relaxed and social setting. The project responds to the growing distance between everyday life and handcraft in contemporary society. The space emphasises simplicity, comfort, and adaptability, with a natural colour palette and flexible layouts that support different modes of use. Craft is understood not only as a cultural heritage, but as an embodied activity that encourages focus, relaxation, and connection. Through making, observing, and sharing, Delicate Hand creates a welcoming place for people to slow down, meet others, and enjoy meaningful time together.
Sauchiehall Street is one of Glasgow’s most prominent shopping streets. By the early 20th century, it had become a
vibrant cultural corridor with theatres, cinemas, clubs, hotels, galleries, and department stores. Today, it remains an active
hub of social and commercial life.
Why handcraft
Personal Satisfaction:
Completing a project by hand offers a deep sense of fulfillment. Designing and creating something from scratch not only stimulates creativity but also provides a rewarding sense of achievement.
Economic Savings:
In times of economic uncertainty, DIY offers a practical alternative to professional services or ready-made goods, allowing individuals to save costs while gaining valuable skills.
Environmental Consciousness:
Growing environmental awareness has encouraged people to repair, repurpose, and upcycle rather than discard. This shift supports sustainable living and reduces unnecessary waste.
Advancements in Technology:
Technological progress has made complex crafts more accessible. Online tutorials and digital tools now enable individuals to learn and create with unprecedented ease.
By engaging in handcraft as a form of entertainment to achieve relaxation, the finished craftwork itself becomes a spectacle.
Through Google Maps and the Eventbrite website, I began researching handcraft studios and related activities in Glasgow. The results show that painting and pottery studios are the most common, while crafts like weaving are often held as temporary events rather than having dedicated spaces. Studios are usually established for activities that require specific tools or materials, which are difficult to manage at home. Most studios are small and beginner-friendly, focusing on hands-on experience and creating a social environment where participants can meet others with similar interests. However, I observed that few studios offer traditional or vintage-style craft experiences, suggesting a potential direction worth further exploration. Therefore, based on the reserach on the traditional crafting, I decide to include Bobbin Lace, Millinery Making, Stained Glass Window, Tiling And Mosaic, Fabric Flower and Beadworking
Due to the limited space, a series of modular furniture elements were designed to support multifunctional use. The cabinet modules consist of a storage-integrated workbench, movable cabinet doors, and exhibition panel modules. The workbench is fixed to the cabinet doors and moves together with them. Overhead suspended sliding rails are installed to support and secure the display panels. The transformable display plinth and mobile display screen can be stored behind the cabinet doors when not in use, allowing the space to remain as open and flexible as possible.
