November 14 2023

Cooper Cromar Architects have published tweaked finalised designs for student housing at the junction of Glasgow's Renfrew and Renfield Street.

A planning application prepared on behalf of McAleer & Rushe shows several changes from the scheme presented at the final public consultation, with the upper crown now finished in matching brickwork to the main body of the build. A privacy screen for a bicycle storage area at ground level has been lowered.

In a project statement, the architects wrote: "The building concept is grounded in a solid, structural, large-format base, sequentially reducing in mass to the lightest most delicate structure at the crown. The crown is functionally divided into an open rooftop sculptural garden, and the remainder is a partially translucent crisp shell ordered by regular slim vertical elements.

"The crown contains some upper accommodation with spacious amenity at both ends. The translucent amenity areas seek to create a serene almost ‘ethereal’ atmosphere which invites the students to learn, contemplate and enjoy our city."

 The site, which has a chequered planning history for alternate student accommodation as well as offices, is now earmarked for 138 apartments over 16 floors, of which 72 are single aspect.

5 Comments

#1 Posted by Gordon on 14 Nov 2023 at 11:47 AM

Perhaps ARB registration could be ascribed categories. Top level for for people who are creative, thoughtful and develop beautiful buildings. Below them the work horses who endeavour to do well but are inclined to miss the mark. And then the crew that live with dollar signs in the eyes and are happy to churn out mediocrity (or worse) at the click of a mouse. Too many of the latter in Scotland.

#2 Posted by Citizen Kane on 14 Nov 2023 at 12:22 PM

The architects here are really only the funder's tools. Here's the brief: We need X amount of units on this site otherwise we will invest elsewhere. Then it comes down to a political decision by the planners/Tamany Hall. I genuinely believe that no amount of architecturing could ameliorate such a ridiculous volume of accommodation. There is absolutely zero urban civic acknowledgement of the location. It's just a solid wall of immured students. But what the hell, Glasgow is no longer Glasgow anyway. It's long gone.

#3 Posted by The Heart of Saturday Night on 14 Nov 2023 at 13:03 PM

"The crown contains some upper accommodation with spacious amenity at both ends. The translucent amenity areas seek to create a serene almost ‘ethereal’ atmosphere which invites the students to learn, contemplate and enjoy our city."

I think that's some of the best design-statement BS we've had yet.

#4 Posted by A Local Pleb on 15 Nov 2023 at 12:19 PM

Do only those with a transient lifestyle want to live in the city? It appears that developments are focusing on student and private rental developments?
The developers and the architects (such as CC) behind these appear to lack any imagination and are satisfied with everything looking like a stack of kid's building blocks. What's more GCC Planners appear to love such dross!

#5 Posted by D to the R on 16 Nov 2023 at 13:07 PM

I see Gordon is one of those not-for-profit architect types. Back to your Corbusier books and musings Gordo

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