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Aparthotel signals Glasgow lane infill

November 23 2016

Aparthotel signals Glasgow lane infill
CMM Architects are leading plans to build a nine storey aparthotel and street level coffee shop on vacant ground at the junction of Sauchiehall Lane and Blythswood Street, Glasgow.

Offering 22 self-catering apartments to business and leisure guests the building will enclose a city block within the central conservation area.

A design statement prepared by the architects read: “The proposed elevation retains the uniform stone plane of the façade. The parapet line is modulated expressing the individual plot. The height of the main façade and recessed roof structure matches that of the two previous Consents below by the Riach Partnership and a further scheme developed by G D Lodge Architects in 2015.”

The front facing elevation will be faced in natural stone and brick to the rear with the top two zinc-clad floors set back behind a heavy cornice. Work to repair natural granite cobbles to Sauchiehall Lane will also take place.

6 Comments

pleasantfield
#1 Posted by pleasantfield on 23 Nov 2016 at 13:09 PM
Hmm,not a very articulate effort.It looks like the building is floating above the street. Its street elevation needs to have the sandstone( or whatever material ) continued down to the pavement like every other building on this frontage shown on the CAD mock up.
leisuresuitlarry
#2 Posted by leisuresuitlarry on 23 Nov 2016 at 13:50 PM
Cheap... like the budgie
David
#3 Posted by David on 23 Nov 2016 at 13:50 PM
I fear for this. The quality of the Planning submission leaves a lot to be desired, and referencing awful '80's infill in the design statement should tell us all something about the aspirations of quality here.

I won't be holding my breath for anything other than rubbish given what's on show.

Agree with comment 1 also. If there is one single thing that would make this contextual, is to make the solid mass sit on the ground.
Graeme McCormick
#4 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 23 Nov 2016 at 14:17 PM
Doesn't seem to compliment or enhance the buildings on either side . The Bank building at the corner of Sauchiehall Street and Blythswood Street is particularly handsome.
Billy
#5 Posted by Billy on 24 Nov 2016 at 07:30 AM
Bland. At least it's tucked away and not trying to compete with the beautiful bank next door. Would not give it a second glance given the beauty next door. Not sure if this was their commercial intention though.
Brian Sewells mother.
#6 Posted by Brian Sewells mother. on 24 Nov 2016 at 19:03 PM
#3 David,
Way too harsh by far.
I’m interested. What specific aspect of the quality of the submission 'leaves a lot to be desired'?
The two previous applications mentioned in the D&A statement are stated solely as historical fact. Where does it say in the D&A that these two examples are aspired to? - It doesn't. Don’t make stuff up and accuse others.
Regarding your ‘grounding’ point and context - Quite simply, in the words of Jimmy Sommerville - it ain't necessarily so.
Billy's point was a good deal nearer the mark about ‘commercial intention’.
So, irrespective of architects quibbling about how this is done or that is done, sometimes by far the most satisfactory architectural approach is to be ‘still’. Some say bland, some say restrained. So what? If the client had wanted Co-op Himmelblau, I am sure they would’ve hired them. They didn’t. Or who knows, they might even have gone to you, but again they didn’t. You pays your money…
Of course, the democratic design process will also have had a significant input in this outcome i.e. the planner and the client. The Architect can do well in this process sometimes just to obtain permissions and be paid for their labour.
There's also something to be said that this is only a planning application. It is yet, no more than dots of ink on paper and still to be developed in detail and gone through other lengthy and painstaking processes i.e. designed and built.
So why all the huffing and puffing over what is a clearly considered and modest building?

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