October 13 2022

New Gorbals Housing Association has taken possession of a landmark social housing development aimed at the over 55's at 150 Crown Street, Glasgow.

Housing 31 apartments for social rent the Page\Park designed tower emphasises independent living with a ground-floor living-well social facility incorporating a shared kitchen, recreation area and games room.

As the final phase of the Crown Street masterplan, North Gate employs a greater sense of scale than prior developments to act as a gateway to the district with each open-plan home boasting generous storage, step-free access and level showers.

Double-width hallways permit two wheelchairs to pass and encourage chance encounters with an internal bike store also offered. Almost car-free just two spaces for wheelchair users are provided.

In a project summary, Page/Park wrote: "Conceived as a series of towers, the building splays out to maximise the potential compact site area. This ensures all flats are either dual or triple aspect, providing quality natural light and considerable views across the city.

"We specified the brick for its tonal variation and soft edges, which evoke associations with blonde sandstone facades seen throughout Glasgow. Brick soffits and deep brick reveals are used to create a solid high-quality aesthetic."

Each elevation has been conceived in the round to embrace all compass directions. This approach extends to the rooftop, where services are concealed behind a continuous parapet wall.

Project data

• Start on site – September 2020
• Completion date – August 2022
• Gross internal floor area - 3427sq.m total
• Form of contract or procurement route – Single-stage design and build
• Construction cost – £5,960,000
• Construction cost per Sq.m - £1740
• Architect – Page\Park Architects
• Client – New Gorbals Housing Association
• Main contractor – CCG Construction
• Structural engineer – G3 Consulting Engineers
• Quantity surveyor – Reid Associates LLP
• Landscape design – Mike Hyatt Landscape
• Energy consultant - Carbon Futures
• Photography - Nick Kane 

11 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 13 Oct 2022 at 11:58 AM

Design is a bit forced -- presence over function.

Detailing looks good.

Economics look a bit challenging -- hope that they have some fixed rates in place.

Uber spec parking facilities -- very unworldly especially for a user group that will have mobility issues.

Next step -- get the build costs under control.

#2 Posted by Fat Wallet on 13 Oct 2022 at 12:52 PM

"Next step -- get the build costs under control."

Where are you going to get prices under £1740 a sqm ?

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

Looks great

#4 Posted by Detail-Seeker on 13 Oct 2022 at 14:25 PM

There's an important piece of project data missing. What is the final hipster to council tenant ratio?

#5 Posted by NightandDay on 13 Oct 2022 at 14:48 PM

"What is the final hipster to council tenant ratio?"
Its 100% social housing.

#6 Posted by Bob Smith on 13 Oct 2022 at 15:23 PM

cost per Sq.m - £1740 - Bargain!
Someone lost an arm and a leg on that one

#7 Posted by Jamie Brown on 13 Oct 2022 at 21:18 PM

This looks great; really impressive sense of verticality and gorgeous detailing.

#8 Posted by The Heart of Saturday Night on 14 Oct 2022 at 09:48 AM

Yes, I particularly like the feature access panel in the interior shot with the mezzanine.

Clearly intended to 'evoke associations' with, well, a soil vent pipe.

#9 Posted by Derek Robert Forrester Wilson on 15 Oct 2022 at 15:22 PM

Can we deal with the excessively wide road now.

#10 Posted by Roddy on 15 Oct 2022 at 20:28 PM

It tries too hard

#11 Posted by Tammy Scoosh on 17 Oct 2022 at 15:11 PM

Best social housing scheme I've seen in Glasgow in a long time - nice neo-brutalist style emerging in Page\Park. £1740psqm is incredible for the dual aspect and detailled resolution achieved. A very happy client I would imagine.

Post your comments