Aedas Architects have unveiled striking concepts for a duo of talls more akin to the booming economies of the Far and Middle East than musty Tradeston. A skeletal sail taller than the Kingston Bridge is long would dwarf the city’s existing tallest, The Science Tower. Providing an unmissable statement of intent and a dramatic counterpoint to the emerging business district, the tower would signify arrival to millions of travellers every year. Further east toward the George V Bridge rises an even greater behemoth. A golden rectilinear form that dances skyward, the opaque façade screening an irregular latticework that juts and protrudes at will. The two towers would be visible across the greater Glasgow area, pinpointing the city centre amidst the morass of suburban sprawl. Neither scheme is currently commercially viable, each being several orders beyond present limitations but both serve to intimate what is achievable at the fringes of possibility.
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gm+ad architects have kindly submitted high resolution imagery of Snodgrass Mills.
Kenmore Property Group have fended off stiff competition in securing the most prestigious commision in Glasgow, 236 Broomielaw. Sheraton Hotels decision to secure a pre let of the landmark tower being symptomatic of the growing maturity and financial clout of the IFSD as Glasgow continues to outperform the UK market. Raising the city to a new level of commercial vigour the tower promises to become a new city landmark visible across much of the south side as portal for citizens and visitors to the regions economic hub.
Snodgrass Mill comprises twin office blocks framing a public courtyard. A heavy limestone screening system is used to contain noise, vibration and pollution from the adjacent motorway, broken only by a sleeve of glass rising to command the eye. An exposed eastern corner flanks the Clyde Port Building in a conscious frame of reference to delineate the IFSD perimeter via twin visual stop ends. As foil to this new architecture public realm relects enhanced stature by effecting embedded street lighting set amidst alternating beige and grey granite paving, peppered by precast concrete cube seats and planting.
Datums respect the precedent of 220 Broomielaw (currently placed on hold, Kenmore have opportunity to steal a march on their rivals), generating a visually harmonious streetfront punctuated by tower element. Prescribing to international modernism each 4 square block extrapolates the city grid to riverfront by maximising floorplates at keen build cost. The bulk of the hotel is broken by a courtyard form in a manner not dissimilar to Holiday Inn, fortunately the over bearing mass of the former is enlivened here by double height foyer pods and the presence of a glazed tower. Definition is provided by a prominent lattice banding of curtain wall glazing delineated by a spectacular double height pinnacle establishing a further irridescent lantern for Glasgow's growing crown, allowing guests to soak up a growing downtown atmosphere.
Enjoying favoured vantage at the heart of the Broomielaw office quarter immediately adjunct to the riverfront the scheme falls mid way between the Argyle International and City Wharf, together representing an impressive assemblage of floor space. City authorities are keen to officialise this natural progression with talk of a nascent high rise cluster publically declaring themselves amenable to large scale intervention from Charing Cross through the Clyde corridor, sending an important signal to architects and developers that this and future proposals will not be prejudiced against on a basis of height. This realises tantalising prospect of a new generation of structures unimpeded by arbitrary limitation to usher in an exciting new intensity of urbanity.
Opinion
Snodgrass Mill greatly benefits from introduction of a traditional alley pend, serving to slice the city block into slender wedges whilst camouflaging ground level parking. Playing with the geometry of a city block in this way enhances profile as massing shifts in plane with site footprint. A twin facade grants illusory double height frontage communicating grandeur to the street in mounting a stiff defence to a hostile environment. It is the tower though which draws the eye representing clearest evocation yet of an IFSD high rise quarter. An understated almost plain facade reflects classical symmetry powerfully imbuing the structure with a sense of wealth without succumbing to pretentiousness. Following the doctrine laid down by Mies gm+ad have effected a sleek, timeless corporatist structure but this rigidity does lack the flamboyance of a more personable Argyle International. The modernist dream of post war planners may be coming to fruition a half century behind schedule.
Prior designs
Submitted proposals represent culmination of a design war between rival camps as each potential developer sought to take full advantage of site outlook and motorway trade in garnering the maximum prestige for their client. Make had mooted a 30 floor plus elliptical tower stacked upon a gently curved podium base, RMJM and HFD tried dangling a 44 storey carrot before Scottish Enterprise, all to no avail. The winning bid will supply much needed 5* hotel accommodation for an unnamed operator in addition to commercial space, serviced apartments and a budget hotel. Current proposals demonstrate confidence unobserved in Bellway Homes & Holmes Partnerships budget £16 million, 160 unit L plan housing scheme with street commerce enclosing a decked parking courtyard. gm+ad's redrawn proposals do the city better justice reflecting the site's key status in accordance with City Wharf and the Kingston Bridge.
In an audacious piece of biomimicry ZM Architects aim to harness the sun's energy by emulating wide circumference lilypads as receiver dish for solar radiation. Tethered to the riverbed onboard motors would allow the discs to trace the suns trajectory. Quite what impact this will have on shipping (such as it now is) and whether the flotilla will ever provide enough energy to boil a kettle will be subject to a trial run by Glasgow Science Centre & city council..
fg is generally concerned with actions and plans of today which affect the immediate future, but what of the far future? Predicting the future is perhaps an impossible task inevitably raising more questions than answers but is nevertheless a worthwhile intellectual exercise. Glasgow School of Art have thus taken a no holds barred approach to producing an exhibition depicting the potential futures which await us.
With peak oil behind us what alternative sources of energy might be devised? Possibly synthetic or bio fuels which can be derived from any readily replenished carbon source such as herbaceous grasses grown on site. Increased reliance on wind power would necessitate exponential increases in the population of turbines such that they may become as common a feature of the urban landscape as they are of todays countryside. Falling costs of electrical goods, new technologies and commercial demand could see interactive electronic billboards erected on our more prominent structures, here envisioned upon the Provan gas works.
The river is treated as a resource rather than obstacle with living bridges designed to bridge the economic divide not only the physical.
Will relaxation in gambling laws create a more decadent society? Or will fuel shortages and escalating energy costs produce a more egalitarian society with greater reliance upon locally sourced produce from urban farms.
Will demographic decline see a retreat of the city in some districts? Newly established nature reserves would bring the countryside to the people and restablish a satisying urban/rural contrast lost to suburbanisation. New stadia might illuminate to reflect performance within.
The only certainty of the exhibition is that the Glasgow of 2057 will little resemble that shown and (barring mishap) be in large part similar to Glasgow of today. But it is change which interests and watching the city develop over the coming 50 years should prove fascinating. The future will be no utopia, but it should be better, anything other will mark the failings of the present.
Usage - 196 Residential flats, Leisure, Commercial space and a 96 bed hotel over 12 floors, 100 flat perimeter block and 2 levels of underground parking incorporating 420 spaces.
Cost - £120 million
Area - 2.5 acres
Design - Elliptical form based on One Wall Centre in Vancouver. To be illuminated.
Location - 121 Millerfield Road.
Status - Vision
Grantly developments towering ambition has fallen flat with news of proceedings for site disposal valued at £5.5 million, the resultant £700,000 financial loss exceeded only by tarnished reputation. Mounting opprobrium following the Commonwealth Games win appears to have finally forced Grantly's hand, preventing messy compulsory purchase orders.
Against all odds a (slender) planning application has been submitted for East One incorporating compass perspectives of indicative proposals. Sadly the anaemic detail within has invalidated the application upon arrival pending an environmental impact analysis from the applicant. As is the plans merely confirm a reduction in height from the initially trailed 55 floors, 180m (591ft) following removal of the hotel element.
With the Commonwealth Games in the bag now might be time to revisit the disputed and mythical East One tower which could yet form a dramatic centrepiece to the Games following a spat between Grantly Developments and GCC which has cast doubt upon an already vague scheme comprising:
Phase 1, a 5 storey, 100 home tenement block with 188 underground parking spaces supposed to have launched in November 2006.
Phase 2, the tower is still conceptual.
Grantly had hoped to do a land swap/lease back or sale looking for £7.8 million having bought the land for £6.2 million, this £1.6 million profit was viewed as "holding the city to ransom" and negotiations were terminated. With the developer so keen to sell it seems obvious their was little intention to build, sensing this the bureaucratic leviathan attempted to shoulder Grantly off site so that full ownership of the lands could be assumed facillitating the councils vision of an Athlete's Village. Nevertheless Grantly obstinately maintain ownership and stress long standing plans (the most ambitious so far seen outside England) for the area. It is now Grantly's stated intention to press ahead with a full planning application with the only concrete evidence of any progress thus far being a sign erected on the contested land, seemingly designed solely to cock a snook at the council as opposed to any genuine marketing attempt. The council have now amended their plans for the village to exclude the Grantly land, fortunately the episode did not adversely affect the Games bid.
The tower will fall below the developers previously stated aim of being the tallest tower in Scotland at 55 floors (pictured below), diappointing but it does indicate that the schemes backers might be pursuing a costed scheme grounded in reality and not some pie in the sky scam. At whatever height East One will dominate the Clyde Gateway. The scheme should be served by a refurbished Dalmarnock station, ready to serve the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Rutherglen Park, a new mixed use scheme, will be built across the river. An approved 79 home residential with private parking and gardens provided for behind street facades is proposed by Imagine Developments at the Springfield/Millerfield Rd junction. East One itself encompasses newly created public parkland,
Opinion
A tall proposal has certainly been desperately anticipated, the continuing dearth of skyscrapers in Glasgow is of mounting concern. The city is crying out for townhomes and tenements to provide place and proper skyscrapers to give the density and skyline. Whether or not this comes to pass at least Dalmarnock and the East End are generating renewed interest. If this scheme (and the games) can open peoples eye's to the potential that exists out there, they'll have been a success.
Elphinstone Place : Published 15/09/07 Official site
Location - 1,3 and 6 India street/314-320 St Vincent Street
Status - Vision
Start date -
Completion date -
City Lofts had been in negotiation with the schemes funder, New York based Lehman Brothers, to engineer an economised design shorn of non productive features and height, including a public viewing gallery and restaurant. This was meant to bring the project within the developers pain threshold but it is understood Lehman Brothers are now unwilling to advance as much capital. As this unravels it is difficult to foresee an outcome beyond continuation of the present mothballs until such time as the site can be sold. As a choice development plot it will be attractive to buyers and partners even in a declining market.
If Charing Cross is the beating heart of Glasgow then small wonder the city was on the brink of cardiac arrest through much of the 20th century. Shambolic road interventions and odious municipal architecture combined to make Charing Cross a no go area. A curse bequeathed on the city then, but also an asset for far sighted 21st century developers to take advantage of by producing a truly 3 dimensional vision employing a different profile from each perspective. Elphinstone Place is the tallest proposed high rise since 1992's Hilton and an important staging post for the developing Charing Cross high rise quarter, The twenty eight storey Elmbank tower is rumoured for Charing Cross station adjacent to the existing Charing Cross hotel and Dial House represents potential for future redevelopment in what could be a nascent cluster.
In planning for 8 years Elphinstone Place will go some way to healing the gaping wound of the M8. The impressive glazed atrium (modelled on Foster's "Tower Place" scheme), will sport a yet to be unveiled public artwork the public artwork an overtly generous gesture for a scheme of this type. The towers ground level impact is adept, the tear drop profile is unique and its orientation in relation to the motorway lends it additional gravitas producing a confident commercial statement contrasting with the squalor of the Anderston estate. This panorama, shown courtesy Russell Davies, showcases Glasgow's redefined 21st century skyline dominated by Elphinstone. The Pinnacle and the U/C Cuprum should add bulk.
Evolution of a Skyscraper
Today's Elphinstone Place is but the latest in a long procession of failed designs for the India street site. As far back as 1999 Holmes Partnership had drawn up tall proposals for CALA. Triple towers featured early as did "green" features. Cooper Cromar picked up design reigns in May of '03 adding further refinement as MacDonald hotels pulled out of the project and the triple tower design was shown to produce too much wind shear, necessitating focus on a lone tower design with unique tear drop shape.
No news since an original application in 2004 suggests that the development in this form is no longer being pursued a shame as this was quite probably the most impressive scheme on the go in Glasgow at one time,it will now be subject to significant design alterations. The shorter tower will sit upon a redeveloped Charing Cross station overlooking the Mitchell Library and Elphinstone Place.
Feasibility studies from ZM and Young and Gault for 27 floors of hotel, residential and office space at Charing Cross. The scheme would have incorporated a cafe, gymnasium and expanded retail and commercial space.
The WTC stands on the site of Fosters Armadillo with Crowne Plaza rising behind. PO-MO riles many but the collonaded foyer looked impressive, it wouldn't have been a cheap build. It's clearly at sixes and sevens with its environment though and is not on a par with the far more graceful Hilton.
Location - 23 Cook Street (terminating Centre Street)
Status - Cancelled
Tower and adjoining block with supermarket, health centre and social club under consideration for Tradeston. Site will be bounded by the new M74 link to the south and is situated one block down from the proposed Tradeston tower.
A tower expansion of City Inn above the existing Cafe at the Finnieston Bridge has been scrapped, although expansion to the west is not precluded at a later date. Investigation of the constrained nature of the site proved the project unviable irrespective of configuration. Land opposite is still scheduled for a new hotel from Forrest. Meanwhile a deflated zeppelin on stilts, last seen being chucked in the Thames by Churchill, could be making a comeback in (of all places) Glasgow. Fondly remembered by some in the Capital the structure was intended as showpiece for Britain's planned renaissance in the aftermath of financial and physical ruin. Ultimately insufficient of itself to affect Britain's merciless post war decline the structure is nonetheless being touted as symbol of the Clyde's rebirth. Given todays tech savvy and fickle populace the structure is unlikely to attain the same appreciation as its originator but geographical whimsy does at least excite imagination beyond the M25 belt of an important architectural moment.
NB: This scheme has been blocked by the Council, it is unknown precisely why. The Council claim loss of sight lines to Dumbarton Rock, poor accessability and lack of car parking.
Worth pointing out these aren't the finalised designs. Cooper Cromar have been switching and swatching colours around and designs could alter on the outcomes of the planning enquiry, scheduled for October. Blonde buffed brickwork is now to be used in part of the scheme as all red would have been too much. The penthouses will be in aluminium/zinc or similar to lighten appearance. It's all disappointingly cheap. In context though it's way beyond anything else in Dumbarton and comparable to the stuff they chuck up in Glasgow/Edinburgh, even docklands. This is just the first phase. The brownfield land snaking round the river to the rock will house commercial/retail and further residential. Needs a bridge to connect up.
The tower is monickered "The Lighthouse", apparently because it's white and sits on a promontory. A lighting strategy "may" be looked at. Some poor quality materials, in this case white pannelling, might reduce daytime presence. Biggest complaint is the way the tower hits the ground, the meagre one storey residential block completely detracts from what ought be a visual highlight. In my opinion the space should be opened up and a pub/bar put in, you'll get great views of Dumbarton rock. We will have a connection between Dumbarton Riverside Parish Church and the river, for the first time ever. The refurbished mill building looks a lot more impressive shorn of its warehousing. The mettalic strip running across the ground is interesting, it acts as a wayfinder directing people towards the central square and the river. With the 14 storey 1930's mill tower the square should be an impressive space. internal courtyards of the tenemental blocks will house decked over private residents parking, all off street. The steelwork is the same as used in nearby yards and the square will be well lit by designer lighting columns.
Materials - Solid glazed copper and zinc panels alternating on adjacent floors
Floor space - 80,000 sq/ft
Cost -
Location - 116 Waterloo Street
Status - Dormant
Start date - n/a
Completion date - n/a
No news since an original application in 2003 suggests that the development in this form is no longer being pursued.
The existing Douglas House is being remodelled externally with a 5 floor extension. Top 2 floors are set back and fully glazed. Development is sandwiched by Franborough House (also by HM Partnership) and The Sentinel.
A glazed extension to the Mitchell Library has been downsized to an internal refurbishment catering for improved access and permeability. Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy makes for an impressive space adjacent to Cafe India at the foot of the Elmbank tower vision.
Two wings of accommodation are planned to be built above the existing function rooms. Plans are likely being reassessed in the wake of rival announcements Marriott and Holiday Inn.
Materials - Red sandstone, patinated copper, zinc sheeting & metallic blue powder-coated aluminium
Total homes -
Floor space - 40,000sq/m
Hotel size -
Cost - £130 million
Location - Osborne, Stockwell, King and Howard St's
Status - Outline Planning Permission
Start date -
Completion date -
The St Enoch's East site remains in limbo following extended uncertainty enshrouding a vying casino and Warner Entertainment Village, each encompassing associated restaurant, bars, residential and leisure complementing retail expansion at the St Enoch Centre and residential development at Osborne Street. Conran's design stacks 20 cinema screens horizontally in a car focussed build (in marked contrast with CINEworld) above ground level leisure. Each screen is housed within a pod at variance with its neighbour in respect of material and abutment to the street generating a stepped east/west profile. This axis culminates in twin 700 space multi storey car parks clad in solid and perforated metal sheet, mesh and louvres with accommodation for advertisement and projected images across a curvature in opposition to Crossrail.
The spreading contagion of house price falls has now infected Gladedale and Bellway, prompting the pair to scrap plans for the former Ruchill Hospital site. Despite being scheduled to commence early next year a planning application has never been submitted to Glasgow City Council... and won’t be anytime soon. The land remains the possession of Scottish Enterprise who must now undertake the unenviable task of securing an alternative developer for the site, in the teeth of an onerous commercial headwind. Surrendering the land to housing would have secured a future for the central A listed water tower.
Visions
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