George Square hotel revamp looks set for approval
February 27 2015
Citing council sources the paper says that officers will decide upon the scheme ‘imminently’ after just two objections were raised against expansion of the Millenium Hotel.
It follows hot on the heels of approval for an 11 storey car park to the immediate north, part of Land Securities Buchanan Quarter that will see the establishment lose half its rooms to an expansion of the Queen Street Station concourse.
In a supporting statement Hamiltons Architects said: “Development advisers (Muir Smith Evans) have held discussions with the head-leasee, Network Rail, and with Land Securities who are obliged to construct a car parking structure and retail accommodation that borders the Millennium Hotel site.
“Hamiltons Architects is having discussions with BDP architects and Land Securities to find the best way of relating the proposed works to the hotel and the adjoining multi-storey car park and retail accommodation.”
Commenting on the scale of intervention the architects add: “It is understandable that the existing hotel building, though not particularly distinguished, should be valued as a part of the city’s architectural heritage. The challenge for the altered Millennium Hotel is to relate its character and scale to the new development that is required. In anycase, the magnificent City Chambers building powerfully establishes the scale of development that a large space such as George Square can and should accommodate.
“We do not believe that new extensions to the hotel can be successfully designed in a pastiche Victorian style. Instead, the additions are being designed as sympathetically scaled elements that are compatible with the materials and scale of the existing hotel building.”
The expanded hotel will add to the growing scale of buildings fronting the square
This will be the second rooftop expansion the hotel has undergone. A mansard roof was added at the turn of the last century
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5 Comments
#2 Posted by Donnie on 28 Feb 2015 at 19:12 PM
I wonder who at GCC is leaking this? Tut tut, meant to be kept confidential untill final decisions are made...
#3 Posted by A christmas elf on 1 Mar 2015 at 15:16 PM
You will never be able to grow shrubs on those patches of grass as long as GCC continue to use George Square for that Christmas ferris wheel!
#4 Posted by Mun to the Go on 2 Mar 2015 at 12:22 PM
Silently, the bland office block stalks the smaller building which languishes serenly next to the parkland...
#5 Posted by Billy on 5 Apr 2015 at 08:03 AM
Am I alone in thinking this looks horrendous ! In our main public square. There must be a better design. And as for the office block next door ....that needs bulldozed and replaced with something more in keeping with square. As for the galleries car park looming at the rear, can they not have some type of hanging gardens to soften it from the Square?
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It would be useful to see it in the full context of West George Street, The City Chambers, George Square et al re the symmetry/ assymetry discussion