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Glasgow high-rises in line for energy efficient makeover

October 21 2015

Glasgow high-rises in line for energy efficient makeover
Amidst widespread demolition elsewhere in the city Queens Cross Housing Association is to press ahead with a £13m renovation of 314 high-rise flats at Cedar Court, Glasgow, to counter the wisdom of demolishing so many homes.

Collective Architecture will overlay the existing fabric of the Woodside trio with insulated cladding, triple glazing and balcony enclosures whilst introducing a renewable heating and ventilation system to bring the towers up to modern standard.

It is anticipated that this will deliver up to 80 per cent reduction in space heating demand by targeting the Passivehouse EnerPHit standard for retrofit. Further enhancements will include new lifts, a public foyer, rooftop mounted solar panels, ground floor commercial units and landscaping.

In a statement Collective Architecture said: “To help fragment the elevational proportions, tonal variations have been designed, in association with Graphical House. These also suggest a graphical interpretation of the duplex apartments layouts that lie behind the facade. Metal surfaces have been employed to lift out key elements from the elevations. The metal finishes capture diffuse light from within providing incidental illumination to the elevations. At ground level glazed brick and precast concrete entrance canopies have been used to ensure a robust material palette to heavily trafficked areas.”

Contractor Keepmoat is expected to move on-site in January with completion scheduled for May 2017.
Enclosed balcony spaces will be usable in all seasons
Enclosed balcony spaces will be usable in all seasons
new communal entrances will offer dual sided approaches
new communal entrances will offer dual sided approaches

7 Comments

Matt
#1 Posted by Matt on 21 Oct 2015 at 16:00 PM
An ambitious project, potentially redefining retrofit projects across the UK. Well done Queens Cross, Collective and Keepmoat. Good luck for the build.
MAF
#2 Posted by MAF on 21 Oct 2015 at 16:24 PM
Are parklets part of the proposals?
Parklets for pensioners
#3 Posted by Parklets for pensioners on 21 Oct 2015 at 22:28 PM
You bet there will be!
Ross
#4 Posted by Ross on 22 Oct 2015 at 10:49 AM
This upsets me this project. Albeit the designs look ok, I used to live in this area. There is an unpleasant undertone to living here. Dark, imposing, no community feel or spirit. I had always hoped for the demolition of these towers to enable the creation of Woodside to go back to being a traditional community again.

D to the R
#5 Posted by D to the R on 22 Oct 2015 at 12:33 PM
The problem here is in Europe this would probably be ok .... The design looks alright but it will the shit value engineered out of it - the details will be eroded to the point that 'they work' and thats it. I hope I'm wrong ...
Local resident
#6 Posted by Local resident on 5 Apr 2016 at 12:15 PM
As you rightly point out in your article the biggest problem with these flats is there dominating verticality. I live opposite them and they are like three giant tomb stones that dwarf surrounding buildings. They are visible from all directions and not in a good way. You can put new facades on them but they will still be an overbearing eyesore which scars the local area. It is a huge site where 5 more moderate blocks of flats could be built that would house the same number of people and wouldn't serve as a permanent monument to the cultural and heritage destruction of the 1960s and the subsequent decline in the sense of community or pride in the area.
Lzo
#7 Posted by Lzo on 18 Oct 2017 at 01:43 AM
They should pull these flats down! Horrible depressing way to live. These buildings are discusting inside smell vile and are also crawling with bugs. Cant believe they ate wasting 13 million on these. Such an eyesore they will be again in the future trust me.

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