The Italian Centre, John Street Entrance

Glasgow

The Italian Centre in John Street, Glasgow, opened in 1991 as a flagship of Merchant City’s cultural regeneration, blending Italian architectural flair with Glasgow’s urban renewal ambitions.

Designed by Page & Park Architects, the Italian Centre was conceived as a *mixed-use development* featuring flats, offices, cafes, and high-end retail.
Its design draws inspiration from an Italian-style palazzo, with a central courtyard and classical detailing, aiming to evoke Mediterranean elegance in the heart of Glasgow.

The rooftop statue “Italia” and other sculptures by Alexander Stoddart reinforce its symbolic ties to Italian heritage and civic pride.

The Centre was one of the first major projects in Glasgow City Council’s regeneration of the Merchant City, transforming a post-industrial zone into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub.
It became a model for “culture-led urban regeneration”, aligning with Glasgow’s designation as European City of Culture in 1990 and its broader internationalisation strategy.

The Italian Centre hosted the UK’s first Versace store, alongside Emporio Armani and other luxury brands, positioning Glasgow as a cosmopolitan shopping destination.
It won the 1995 Best Practice Award from the British Urban Regeneration Association, recognising its success in blending heritage, design, and economic revitalisation.

Scholars have explored the Centre’s role in shaping narratives of identity, cosmopolitanism, and inclusion, noting tensions between its upscale image and the realities of urban inequality.

It’s been interpreted both as a celebration of Italian-Glaswegian heritage and as a contested symbol of gentrification and cultural branding.