St Aloysius’ College to build Garnethill sports hall
November 12 2014
This will entail provision of a four court hall which can be configured for the play of volleyball, basketball, netball and five-a-side football by combining pitches within a rectangular build of bronze aluminium, brickwork and glass.
Conceived in order to limit travel time for pupils transiting to various existing facilities around the city the new complex will be built on an existing playground and backcourt area opposite the main college building, retaining a single storey classroom annexe which will be linked to the development.
In a design statement Burnet Bell said: “In architectural terms the most challenging aspect of the design has always been how to resolve expression of the large rectangular sports hall volume, devoid of low level fenestration. The ‘active frontage’ treatment permits the solid sports hall volume to be lifted over a largely glazed ground floor.
“The new complex has been designed to extend the Renfrew Street built form and although clearly a different building type, to respect its neighbour and continue expression of its stepped horizontal emphasis. At the same time, the volume of the sports hall is clearly articulated by the cantilever, which introduces a visual ‘shadow gap’ between the buildings.”
To incorporate college branding without the need for overt signage the schools ‘Eagle’ crest will be superimposed upon the Renfrew Street façade as a supergraphic.
The school was constrained by the limited dimensions of its Garnethill plot
The sports hall has been designed to respect the newly completed GSA Reid Building
The west facade of the A listed St Aloysius Church will remain exposed
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7 Comments
#1 Posted by Alf on 12 Nov 2014 at 12:37 PM
The last thing any new building wants to do is respect the aesthetic of the Reid Building in my humble opinion.
#2 Posted by james on 12 Nov 2014 at 13:15 PM
If the same quality of 'not quite there-ness' can be achieved materially as the Reid building (whatever else may be said about it) then this will be another nae bad addition to Garnethill, which already has some modern gems there. Even if it plays Juliet to the Reid building's Romeo then that's fine too. The key will be the materiality of the opaque and translucent cladding. £££ please. Best for a long time here - a bit of cheer.
#3 Posted by Ja on 12 Nov 2014 at 13:19 PM
Visuals look better if rendered in 2 point perspective.
#4 Posted by MoBo on 13 Nov 2014 at 11:03 AM
I know for a fact that many residents from Garnethill are very against this scheme - but its seems their protests and comments were not listened to. The fact that it passes the building line of the adjacent tenement is bad practice and absolutely disrespect to the people who live here. Trying to emulate the Reid building doesn't work as they are not good enough architects to respond to any of the context - whether a neighbouring tenement or a key building.
#5 Posted by Hingwy on 13 Nov 2014 at 11:24 AM
The building line seems to be inline with the tenement on the plans, as well as 3d images. 6 comments on the planning portal but cannae read them. Seems pretty mild to me, and I can't even tell how many of those are against it.
#6 Posted by CADMonkey on 13 Nov 2014 at 11:24 AM
Well, with an hour to spare in Glasgow yesterday I went and visited the Reid Building for the first time.
I was quite taken aback because I thought it was an extremely good building. I was very surprised how well it sat opposite the Mac. Much much better in the flesh than any images I'd seen before. Hope this will be the same as the images don't sell it.
I was quite taken aback because I thought it was an extremely good building. I was very surprised how well it sat opposite the Mac. Much much better in the flesh than any images I'd seen before. Hope this will be the same as the images don't sell it.
#7 Posted by james on 13 Nov 2014 at 12:16 PM
Dear MoBo, now that wouldn't be an elitist statement would it? - 'Trying to emulate the Reid building doesn't work as they are not good enough architects to respond to any of the context' I am sure Burnet Bell will want to thank you for that kind thought, but in this case given the blank box-like nature of the brief, I think they've done alright. I think perhaps you are being a bit harsh...Mebbe?
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