September 16 2022

An abandoned care home in Glasgow's Queens Park area is to be reborn as 18 car-free apartments under plans prepared by Belle Unique.

Having lain vacant since 2013 the fire-damaged property at 52 Queen Mary Avenue is to be converted to form a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments with 337sq/m of outdoor amenity space, including a play area.

Unifying the original stone-built private home with a later 1970s extension the work will see a new glass gable detail incorporated at both ends along with a streamlined roof to establish a 'common language' after demolition was ruled out on economic and environmental grounds.

Later additions will be finished in pewter grey render under composite slate-effect tiles with smoked glass to all balustrades and balconies.

Outlining the planned changes Belle Unique wrote: "The existing redundant lift shaft to the front of the building will be demolished as it is not in use and doe not serve all floors. This will allow for the softening of the front elevation by allowing feature glass gable windows to be installed on both ends of the front elevation to create a common language linking the existing sandstone building and the extension for a coherent and more appealing front facade."

Lower ground floor flats incorporate external private terraces to the front with an internal courtyard planted with a feature tree visible from an access walkway. 

9 Comments

#1 Posted by Mick on 16 Sep 2022 at 12:55 PM

This looks like a clever reimagining of a building which has lain derelict for too long. We’ll done to all involved

#2 Posted by Passerby on 16 Sep 2022 at 22:47 PM

Well if you mean by abandoned 'left to fall into wrack and ruin with no maintenance, fire damaged due to no security and tax 'avoided'' yes it's a respectable project. Who doesn't want care homes turned into yuppie flats?

#3 Posted by Mick on 17 Sep 2022 at 13:37 PM

Re#passerby
Yes. No dispute about the wider politics of buildings, ownership and the lobbying weight of developers. I’d much rather see community owned and run , well designed housing and provision for the majority of people any day of the week. No argument either with the disgrace of running down building stock and land grabbing by greedy speculators. I merely wanted to comment on the architectural merit of a building which was in danger of getting ripped down and replaced with some second rate design which we see all too often blighting the city

#4 Posted by Gay Gordon on 18 Sep 2022 at 13:43 PM

Dreadful, dreadful hick landscape treatment. What happens to the beautiful Acer at the front of the property....slash and burn the existing setting?

#5 Posted by Gordon again on 18 Sep 2022 at 13:55 PM

So the Beemer and Bugattis parked outside this car-free development belong to the neighbours? One little image says so much about the mindset of the developer/architect.

#6 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 18 Sep 2022 at 22:21 PM

Nice to finally see care home residents' wigwam needs being met, here.

#7 Posted by Fireman Samson on 20 Sep 2022 at 08:01 AM

I hope those glazed Juliette balconies are A1/A2 fire rated.

#8 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 20 Sep 2022 at 15:27 PM

Needs more timber furniture in the back garden - we can still see some grass.

#9 Posted by Ken on 22 Sep 2022 at 13:17 PM

Staggering how crass and inappropriate these interventions are. The quality of the existing is completely lost. Suggest a demolish and rebuild would be more dignified that this.

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