November 13 2019

Caledon Property Group has shown their hand at Glasgow’s Trongate with proposals to demolish a disused bank in order to allow the formation of a 157 room apart-hotel rising to 12 storeys.

Adjoining the planned Candleriggs Square the project is being overseen by Mosaic Architecture & Design to respect its a-listed neighbour while reinforcing the ‘urban wall’ of the street below.

Formed from a combination of stone cladding, bronze anodised aluminium and a pink granite base course the chosen solution has been conceived as a height ‘marker’ at a prominent junction, stepping down in height in deference to its neighbour.

In their townscape analysis, the architects wrote: “Glasgow is a city well known for striking buildings on prominent corners, therefore, we have reviewed some important James Miller buildings which successfully demonstrate the combination of rhythm, fenestration and material.
 
“We also reviewed some contemporary responses which adopt a similar approach and the Clarges development in London by Squire and Partners is a good example. This project also demonstrates how datums can be utilised to define the massing at the edge of the city block whilst at the same time adopt a recessive massing at the upper levels to achieve a balance between a successful response to the urban context and a commercially viable development.”
 
The same team have already completed the refurbishment of 190 Trongate into serviced apartments.

16 Comments

#1 Posted by Robin B's Discount on 13 Nov 2019 at 13:06 PM

That looks tremendous. Really hope it happens! Great work Mosaic!

#2 Posted by David on 13 Nov 2019 at 13:23 PM

Terrific proposal. Echoes the designs of the Victorian warehouses in the area, would love to see the metal cladding in detail, let's hope they make it really decorative. Plus the proposal removes what must be the ugliest building on the Trongate (after TJ Hughes of course). Let's hope this goes ahead!

#3 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 13 Nov 2019 at 19:04 PM

"We have reviewed some important James Miller buildings which successfully demonstrate the combination of rhythm, fenestration and material, but decided to ignore all that and go for something run-of-the-mill instead – much easier. We have stacked a few extra storeys on top though, so the client should be happy. We’ll see what the planners think, we’ve spent a lot of time on the spin statement – see, it’s not out of scale, it’s an ‘urban wall’ with a ‘height marker’. Oh yes – stick that in your pipe and smoke it.”

What’s it supposed to be marking the height of - developer ambition?
Where’s the composition, the order, the detail, the joy? Yes it's better than the current building, but let's not get carried away here, 110 St Vincent Street this is not.

The name of the great man has been referenced here in an attempt to justify an extra half-dozen storeys, no more, no less. The only similarity between this and Millers work is that some of his buildings also occupy corner sites. It would be more pertinent to reference the Cineworld block.

#4 Posted by Stylecouncil on 13 Nov 2019 at 21:18 PM

‘Terrific’ ‘tremendous’.....jings!
I am much inclined to suggest- generic, banal, out of scale with it’s A listed neighbour, proportionately incorrect and a week continuation of a current (now obsolete) and intensely dull architectural ‘trend’.

#5 Posted by Rab McGlintchy on 13 Nov 2019 at 22:23 PM

#4 are you Prince Charles perchance?

#6 Posted by Handy Addon on 14 Nov 2019 at 11:32 AM

Whilst I agree with others that there is a level of pretentiousness to the design statement I cannot hold it against this scheme as it is common practice in the industry to submit design statements that may aim to elelevate the design through the ebullient use of a thesaurus.

Lets be honest Architecture is still a commercial industry so client needs still need to be served, so whilst it would be preferable to see this scheme lose a few storeys it hardly the onlt scheme that can be said for these days, especially given the close proximity of other controversial schemes.

Overall I hope to see this come to fruition because the architect has obviously (as they have stated) taken cognisance of and tried to be sympathetic to the aesthetic of the city. Something we all wish more would do.

#7 Posted by Alf on 15 Nov 2019 at 11:22 AM

#4 I see what you did there...

"...may aim to elelevate (sic) the design through the ebullient use of a thesaurus."

#8 Posted by Edward Hawke on 15 Nov 2019 at 11:23 AM

I get the impression that some comments have a vested interest.
I see no cause to support this stand-alone design.

#9 Posted by Alf on 15 Nov 2019 at 11:24 AM

Sorry, I meant #6, not #4.

#10 Posted by Charlie_ on 15 Nov 2019 at 11:39 AM

@Edward - I have no vested interest at all and can't see any reason to oppose it? The facades are perfectly decent & far superior to the building on site, the height is inkeeping with other consented schemes on the street & it brings people & activity to an under utilised site. Whats the problem?

#11 Posted by G Man on 15 Nov 2019 at 16:12 PM

This is actually not a bad design, there was a tall block on this corner up to the 70's when it was flattened for this, certainly not as tall but an improvement on what has been there for the best part of 35 years..

#12 Posted by Billy on 15 Nov 2019 at 20:18 PM

So much better than what’s there. Hopefully this is the beginning of dragging up the whole Trongate area.

#13 Posted by nathan wright on 15 Nov 2019 at 21:29 PM

Frankly apalling. Completely out of scale with its surroundings simply to create profit.

#14 Posted by Glasgow Bob on 16 Nov 2019 at 05:55 AM

#13 tosh!
About time the city grew in height - this isn't the 17th century.

#15 Posted by Gordy on 16 Nov 2019 at 17:10 PM

Banal doesn't really cover it. The whole thing can be read in the blink of an eye.....and then forgotten. No need to look twice.

#16 Posted by Terra on 19 Nov 2019 at 10:47 AM

nice! more height :)

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