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Urban Bothies
24 / RCA / Design for a sustainable future
The Bothy has been part of our cultural heritage for hundreds of years, acting as a reliable shelter of generosity in times of need. Being modest, open-access shelters nestled in the wild, Urban Bothies reimagine these spaces within the context of London’s green infrastructure. An open source design by each community for each community, for local use and local needs.
Urban Bothies: Reclaiming the Right to Roam in the City
As ramblers and stewards of the land, we believe in the right to roam, and in the potential for city dwellers to reconnect with nature through warmth, refuge, and community. These urban bothies are compact, intentionally minimal interventions that act as guardians of the natural footprint, preserving the land by taking up as little of it as possible. More than shelters, they are beacons: warm, cosy, and ever-present. A place to rest, to observe, to gather. Always there, and always will be, each bothie designed for its vernacular, of stone, of wood, of local belonging.
A Catalyst for Regeneration and Social Impact
Set against the backdrop of London’s neglected green spaces, Urban Bothies are designed as catalysts for ecological restoration, community connection, and radical inclusion. Each bothy becomes a node of stewardship, inviting local councils, citizen scientists, and grassroots organisations to engage in re-wilding, rainwater harvesting, and the care of urban wildlife habitats.
By integrating revenue models through strategic philanthropy, CSR funding, and community programming, the project addresses not only environmental degradation but also urban homelessness, offering task-based spaces for re-integration, learning, and care. As spaces of belonging and guardianship, Urban Bothies honour the National Park City vision while planting the seeds for a greener, more just urban future.
CREDIT – Markos Georgiou, Tom Scrimgeour, Myles Igwebuike, Kelly Harrigan
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