As studies of (im)mobility explore how people can be both enabled and constrained in their movements, the lives of Scottish Showpeople—travelling fairground workers—offer a distinct yet relatable window into these dynamics. This research brings together the mobility expertise of KU Leuven and the architectural perspective of the University of Edinburgh, weaving these disciplines to explore how Showpeople build and maintain their lives around movement and adaptation.

The project shifts focus from the visible spectacle of fairs to the more concealed spaces where Showpeople live, repair, plan, and rework environments. These yards are active, self-made places where cultural practices, social ties, and sociomaterial improvisation come together. By working alongside Showpeople, the research aims to map these spaces as living forms of heritage, shaped by historical rhythms and modern pressures. Through ongoing fieldwork and collective architectural assessments, the project will create a public forum for sharing lives, plans, and practical knowledge. The goal is not to just to record how these communities navigate shifting environments, but to recognise their own strategies for sustaining social life and spatial intelligence. In doing so, the project hopes to support Showpeople’s ongoing work of shaping space and community in the city.