October 28 2022

A notorious eyesore in Glasgow city centre has been lined up for a much-needed facelift by Unite Students as part of fire safety requirements.

The Blackfriars student housing complex on High Street will be recladded to remove combustible insulation, delivering an 'aesthetic improvement' to the area in the process. Works will see non-compliant external wall substrates removed and replaced by new external cladding to sit more harmoniously alongside the Collegelands development.

In a design statement, LMA Architects wrote: "The existing building consists of a feature curved ‘tower’ element in stone to the main road. Beyond that, it is made up of effectively a single mass, material and fenestration pattern on a low plinth, and overall appears very cellular and expansive.

"There is very little articulation or rhythm in the elevations, and the overclad, essential for safety purposes and current standards, presents an opportunity to improve the facade appearance, not only in material but with an overall considered design approach, similar to many such buildings around Glasgow."

Intended to minimise the cell block appearance plain terracotta panels will break up the body of the facade with anthracite vertical elements, establishing a clear top, middle and bottom to alleviate the monotony. The upper floors will be finished in aluminium. 

4 Comments

#1 Posted by James Hepburn on 28 Oct 2022 at 12:00 PM

When you say 'Glasgow eyesore' that doesn't immediately narrow it down. Most of Post WWII Glasgow falls into that category.

#2 Posted by The Heart of Saturday Night on 28 Oct 2022 at 12:34 PM

I'm really not sure if this is much of an improvement.

#3 Posted by DJ on 28 Oct 2022 at 15:20 PM

#2- I think its proof that you can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter.

#4 Posted by E=mc2 on 31 Oct 2022 at 21:33 PM

Is the first picture a before or after?

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