June 15 2023

Watkin Jones has launched a second round of consultations relating to a 'compact city' on the site of a former office block on India Street, Glasgow.

Working with Hawkins/Brown Architects and HarrisonStevens landscape architects the current plans envisage high-rise student accommodation on the prominent site, potentially incorporating part of the existing structure to reduce embodied carbon.

In a statement, the developer wrote: "This project provides the opportunity to bring a new urban scale residential development to this part of the city as part of a positive new identity for Blythswood, reactivating the streetscape and addressing the M8 with a positive landscape character as an urban thoroughfare, playing a part in healing the scar of the M8 in urban terms."

Emphasising 'urban greening' through flowering plants, green roofs and growing gardens the build will soften the harsh immediate context as part of a generous public realm strategy to enhance the environment around Charing Cross Station.

This extends vertically through the tower through multiple roof terraces and semi-enclosed winter gardens to ensure residents don't have to hit the roof or the street to relax in nature. 

9 Comments

#1 Posted by Joes Dog on 15 Jun 2023 at 09:50 AM

To me it looks like a very big, very low end, overexploited site. These images do not inspire any kind of confidence that this proposal has the architectural aspiration to justify being the county's highest new residential building. Greenwashing it with a couple of trees at the entrance and showing some lettuce growing on balconies does little to alter that.

#2 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 15 Jun 2023 at 10:47 AM

Filler -- adds a bit of scale and height.

Very useful in adding a bit of life to this isolated / under performing area.

#3 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 15 Jun 2023 at 13:44 PM

Glasgow’s love affair with the Buddleia continues and is now going to be formalised in this underwhelming nod to Hundertwasser.

#4 Posted by Gandalf the Grey on 16 Jun 2023 at 10:49 AM

This site would benefit from high rise development, just a pity that it is such a cheap and nasty attempt to cash in on the erstwhile student accommodation boom. How it 'helps heal the scar of the M8' beats me. Everything 'helps' these days, doesn't actually 'do' anything, don't you find? The landscaping proposals are pitiful. If the city had any self respect we would see a real tribute to Hundertwasser.

#5 Posted by Gay Gordon on 16 Jun 2023 at 11:02 AM

Is the bullshit module a requirement for architecture courses these days?

#6 Posted by Beuce Digalow on 17 Jun 2023 at 10:02 AM

Really!? Someone's trying this bs again!! Has nobody learned the lessons of other failed attempts to build something of this scale at Charing Cross (see Elphinstone Tower). Nevermind that it's a boring plain facade and has all the interst of the tower blocks that we're trying desperately to remove from our skyline. IF this ever becomes a reality it won't stand the test of time.

#7 Posted by Gavin on 17 Jun 2023 at 12:14 PM

Doesn’t look like much effort has been put into the render, and who can blame the architects? We all know GCC will reject anything of height, despite Manchester, Liverpool etc booming on the back of such developments.

#8 Posted by Spike on 17 Jun 2023 at 19:42 PM

Overall I think a high rise building such as proposed is the correct design solution for this site but an important consideration will be the material in which it is clad - please no cheap panelling

#9 Posted by town planner on 19 Jun 2023 at 16:25 PM

#8 - I agree a high rise building is a good solution for this site. As you say, the cladding quality is important, and if they could expand further the vertical green infrastructure through the tower that would be an improvement.

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