It's a vision that could become Carlisle's buzzing new social hub - and one that would be built entirely from shipping containers.

City-based architect Malcolm Wilson wants to create a new cultural space and has already seen an overwhelmingly positive response.

He wants to develop a building inspired by a similar project in Glasgow, at Barras Art and Design (BAaD), where a series of the containers have been installed.

It has become a popular venue for vintage markets, art exhibitions, pop up shops, large scale events, street food markets and music and theatre productions.

He's only just planted the seed but Malcolm, director of Black Box Architects, is confident the project has the potential to come fruition, given how many people have responded to the idea.

"It's been extraordinary," he said.

In a comment he posted to their Facebook page on Sunday, Mr Wilson said that if they were to receive 1,000 likes he would design the new building free of charge.

Less than two days later the number of people who had 'liked' the page had already surpassed his target and the numbers continued to climb throughout the week to more than 4,000.

"I said if we can get to 1,000 views I will do all the architectural work for free to get a little community venture going in Carlisle," he said.

"We have had a lovely response. The attitude is there, the response is there. This is true community spirit.

"It's still early days but we can make this work."

He's seen for himself how popular the Glasgow venue has become and wants the same for Carlisle. "We are going to do our best to get something like that here," he said. "A small version it could work really well."

He didn't expect to see the response they've had but now has no doubt that it will work and said he was "100 per cent, absolutely sure" it would kick off.

"I'm astonished with the response from Carlisle. At the end of the day these things can be taken down, moved and reassembled somewhere else," he added.

Mr Wilson has already looked into the cost of containers and thinks the 20ft long ones, at under £1,000 each, will be the best option. He said they are very robust, cost effective and essential to city pop up society.

He said two possible site have already been identified. While they are not in the city centre, these empty, derelict site that currently have no use, are on the main arteries into the city.

The next step is to explore the sites and approach Carlisle City Council to see if they would be on board with the idea.

The container venue at BAaD is an ongoing collaborative project by ROCK DCM to help regenerate the east end art quarter of the city.

Mr Wilson is keen to help students display their work, as they currently have few outlets to do so, and thinks this new venture would be a great opportunity for them.