March 13 2019

Southside Housing Association and AS Homes have teamed up to tackle a redundant garage on the corner of Niddrie Road and Allison Street, Glasgow, to deliver 49 new flats.

George Buchanan Architects have been commissioned to lead the transformation which will see the current structure swept away in favour of a car-free homes more in keeping with the tenement neighbourhood.

In their design statement the architects explained: “We aim to repair the fragmented city block and introduce a strong sense of public and private space within the development.

“The proposed 49 units spread across 0.43 ha would equate to a density of approx. 114 dwellings per hectare. Whilst this is above the density threshold for this site, it is within an area of high accessibility to public transport, whilst the proposals seek to match the density and form of the immediate environs.”

Facing brick has been specified for the elevations which seek to repair the urban block, addressing a prominent corner vantage with a raised five-storey element.

11 Comments

#1 Posted by User License on 13 Mar 2019 at 11:56 AM

Is SketchUp Pro really that expensive these days?

#2 Posted by Daniel on 13 Mar 2019 at 11:58 AM

Really well-intentioned but aaargh but why the gaps, why the gaps?!?

#3 Posted by gap notminder on 13 Mar 2019 at 13:39 PM

whit gaps?

#4 Posted by Mind the Gap on 13 Mar 2019 at 13:49 PM

Gaps are useful. You can urinate there, drop your bin, see the locals struggle to steal your clothes drying in the garden over the spiky fence, observe mother nature planting more japanese knotweed and finallly - spend days thinking about what so called architect had in mind presenting this.

On the pro side - good to see Arnold Clark gone (one of his eyesores less) and somebody made my day - 49 car-free flats with on street parking :)

#5 Posted by wonky on 13 Mar 2019 at 14:32 PM

Decent density that will fit in well with its surroundings- in terms of detailing its hard to tell what the finish will be like with the cheap renders on the image- but in reference to the gaps, I think the one on the north side of the site is actually a continuation of a well used local through-lane (useful as its quite a long block) and the other is for service entry to the back courts I presume.

#6 Posted by Egbert on 14 Mar 2019 at 09:03 AM

This looks pretty good and entirely appropriate for its location - decent massing, maintains the street line and block height, bit of interest on the corner. Also, refreshingly for an HA scheme in inner Glasgow, no ludicrous anti-urban on-plot parking or private driveways. Good to see some basic sense prevailing. And like Wonky I have no issue with the gaps. Keep it up.

#7 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 14 Mar 2019 at 11:38 AM

If someone had just said 'Housing Association, redundant garage site, Govanhill' and left it at that I would be imagining something on the low end of the dross that is all so often shat across the pages of UR.
That this scheme appears on the face of it to make the right big moves in a simple manner is to be applauded, in admiration as much as relief.
This area needs some tackling and this is a good way to continue the much needed work of the compulsory purchase zone.
lets see some follow up social functions as well yeah?

#8 Posted by DG on 14 Mar 2019 at 12:32 PM

Rem, not technically Govanhill but don't let that stop you. The 'cross' between Alison st and Pollokshaws rd (about 100m away) was historically the centre of the village of Marchtown (later Strathbungo). Govanhill is further east.

#9 Posted by Derek Wilson on 15 Mar 2019 at 08:45 AM

In the interests of clarity and for the avoidance of doubt, lets start calling Govanhill Fireworks Village. Really no need for the parking at the front even if it does require another heinous gap to access rear parking. Why don't they just do it properly the first time?

#10 Posted by Donald Bentley on 15 Mar 2019 at 10:54 AM

This is an interesting design - and surprisingly close to the feasibility design produced for Southside Housing by previous architects exploring the on-street parking approach to tenement infill high density. Flattering maybe.

#11 Posted by Jezza Alexander on 15 Mar 2019 at 10:56 AM

Such thoughtful design, stands apart from recent urban blocks.

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