Finnieston flats plan drawn up
June 8 2015
Seeking to draw the west end grid south through Finnieston, where it currently fragments, it will take the form of two L-shaped blocks enveloping landscaped amenity space and parking above existing railway tunnels which preclude development.
Rising to seven and six storeys these builds will be accessed by a two storey ‘gateway’ carved through the north block for vehicles and pedestrians.
In their design statement B3 noted: “The design form of the proposed development effectively encloses an urban block with semi-private defensible spaces within as in the tenemental model.
“Decorative panels will provide partial definition and enclosure to the social spaces and will also be a compositional device to add visual articulation and texture to the inner block elevation.
“By constructing an L-shaped block (North Block) to the north and east of the site largely following a building line defined by the site geometry, a new urban block form is created. Following the elegant corner sweep of the adjacent 7 storey Bell Orr development at the corner of St Vincent Crescent and Minerva Street, the urban context is repaired and extended to the south with a confident statement of architectural and urban intent.”
Construction is constrained by the presence of twin railway tunnels below ground
The scheme will take the place of low-rise commercial units
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36 Comments
#2 Posted by Rabbie on 8 Jun 2015 at 12:02 PM
No doubt someone will commend this for being 'dense' but the design is absolutely atrocious.
#3 Posted by james on 8 Jun 2015 at 12:20 PM
German Battleship Bismarck
Architects: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Launched: 14 February 1939
Length: 251m
Beam: 36 m
Propulsion: 12 Wagner superheated boilers
Complement: 103 officers &
1,962 enlisted men
Architects: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Launched: 14 February 1939
Length: 251m
Beam: 36 m
Propulsion: 12 Wagner superheated boilers
Complement: 103 officers &
1,962 enlisted men
#4 Posted by "El" on 8 Jun 2015 at 13:14 PM
#palmtoface
What the hell is this?
First IM is horrendous!
What the hell is this?
First IM is horrendous!
#5 Posted by Stephen on 8 Jun 2015 at 14:05 PM
Catalogue designed horror. Why does the council insist on so much parking as well? It’s right next to a train station, on a primary cycle path and nearly in the middle of town.
#6 Posted by Auntie Nairn on 8 Jun 2015 at 14:47 PM
The one ray of hope is that it's not approved yet. Let's hope that GCC can tease a decent design out of them.
#7 Posted by Moira mccartney on 8 Jun 2015 at 15:16 PM
this development will be a blight on an area that has until now managed, through the efforts of local campaigners and others, to have substantially improve both architecturally (with a few exceptions...Minerva Way for instance) , commercially and in terms of vastly improved amenities. Please please listen to the people who really CARE about the Finnieston Area and reconsider approval of this development. Thank you.
#8 Posted by hotspur on 8 Jun 2015 at 15:32 PM
Glasgow need to pause and rethink of its housing developements (PS: take reference from Scandinavian cities such as Copenhagen and Oslo).
#9 Posted by Grrrrrrrr on 8 Jun 2015 at 15:43 PM
What's with the guy taking the photograph of it in the first render? Is her from badbritisharchitecture.com?
#10 Posted by Art Vandelay on 8 Jun 2015 at 16:08 PM
It looks like it's jumped from the 2004 Annual of Rubbish Speculative Flats.
#11 Posted by Neil C on 8 Jun 2015 at 16:21 PM
Identikit rubbish in an area that's becoming Glasgow's answer to Shoreditch. And to think this will be within sight of the A-listed St Vincent Crescent.
Please, somebody, stop this from happening...
Please, somebody, stop this from happening...
#12 Posted by wonky on 8 Jun 2015 at 16:52 PM
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Minerva+Way,+Glasgow,+Glasgow+City+G3/@55.862983,-4.286675,3a,75y,231.75h,99.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1suGM2tRtxr7Wa8p2d3ir03w!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x488845d5be46b041:0x3443571d00f0daeb!6m1!1e1 Remarkably similar: same company by any chance or just a coincidence vis-a-vis mediocrity?
#13 Posted by Finniestonian on 8 Jun 2015 at 16:55 PM
Tradeston comes to Finnieston. Our worst nightmare. Please look out for the planning application and submit your responses. Your support will be much appreciated.
#14 Posted by David on 8 Jun 2015 at 16:57 PM
This is their second attempt at a planning application for this site. The first was withdrawn after considerable levels of objection.
For the life of me I can't see any improvement in the design this time round so hopefully there will be a fresh refusal.
For the life of me I can't see any improvement in the design this time round so hopefully there will be a fresh refusal.
#15 Posted by Ironman on 8 Jun 2015 at 17:04 PM
I'd go so far as to call this building alienating. It really does leave me feeling cold.
As an earlier poster commented, why not look to Copenhagen, Amsterdam or any other similar city and see how to develop a creative, quirky high-density space. If you build quality here people will undoubtedly pay owing to the location.
The architect seems to be taking contextual cues form the pathetic business park next door rather than the beautiful crescent 25 metres away.
As an earlier poster commented, why not look to Copenhagen, Amsterdam or any other similar city and see how to develop a creative, quirky high-density space. If you build quality here people will undoubtedly pay owing to the location.
The architect seems to be taking contextual cues form the pathetic business park next door rather than the beautiful crescent 25 metres away.
#16 Posted by Mac Mac on 8 Jun 2015 at 17:21 PM
Are they Architects or just provide 'architectural services'?? I would not believe that an Architect penned this carbuncle!
I appreciate that there are a lot of good things that have come from Bradford, but this ain't one of them.
I appreciate that there are a lot of good things that have come from Bradford, but this ain't one of them.
#17 Posted by The Bairn on 8 Jun 2015 at 17:37 PM
Seems like I'm going to be in a minority of one so here's my tuppence worth!!
I haven't visited the site so don't know about the contextual argument but main street elevations looks fine. What do people expect? Developers develop sites (to make money). Employ commercially aware architects to design (for money). Client got there first so get over it boys. This scheme is perfectly adequate as a standalone project and only local residents will know if the building will or will not be an appropriate long term solution on this site.
It certainly is big and bulky but not an eyesore as some might suggest. Get real!!
I haven't visited the site so don't know about the contextual argument but main street elevations looks fine. What do people expect? Developers develop sites (to make money). Employ commercially aware architects to design (for money). Client got there first so get over it boys. This scheme is perfectly adequate as a standalone project and only local residents will know if the building will or will not be an appropriate long term solution on this site.
It certainly is big and bulky but not an eyesore as some might suggest. Get real!!
#18 Posted by David on 9 Jun 2015 at 11:34 AM
@ The Bairn,
Sadly if everyone took your viewpoint the world would rapidly become a fairly grim and mediocre place, devoid of richness of character, and any sense of place.
I think you need to 'get real'.
Sadly if everyone took your viewpoint the world would rapidly become a fairly grim and mediocre place, devoid of richness of character, and any sense of place.
I think you need to 'get real'.
#19 Posted by Finniestonian on 9 Jun 2015 at 11:59 AM
Well said, David. I think The Bairn is someone who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing. A visit to this area would show how modern architecture, in the form of G3 Abode (the Bell Orr building referred to) can respect Alexander Kirkland's fine architecture in the St Vincent Crescent Conservation Area. Would such a design be permitted so close to Royal Crescent in Bath? I think not.
#20 Posted by Bill on 9 Jun 2015 at 18:08 PM
An atrocious design completely out of keeping with the area. Surely this will not be acceptable to the planners. Cheap and nasty!
#21 Posted by monkey9000 on 9 Jun 2015 at 21:18 PM
Have the 'designers' never heard of the KISS principle?
#22 Posted by Billy on 10 Jun 2015 at 03:19 AM
Ugly! Dated already. Looks like an office block.
#23 Posted by St.Vincent on 10 Jun 2015 at 09:44 AM
No chance this will be built in the proposed form.
I'm fairly relaxed about that.
I'm fairly relaxed about that.
#24 Posted by Big Chantelle on 10 Jun 2015 at 11:55 AM
Oh, the feigned outrage of you lot here.
You mock classical and traditional architecture daily, aid and abet the lefty modernist mafia to impose their ugliness onto our towns and cities, and when they produce rubbish like this, you all of a sudden act all outraged.
Instead of 'doing an interpretation' of a tenement, why not just build one like the existing ones. If it's good enough to imitate (badly and with cheap materials), the building type is not in question. What is in question is the morality of the people trying to shortchange society with the architectural equivalent of Primark being dressed up to be Prada.
You mock classical and traditional architecture daily, aid and abet the lefty modernist mafia to impose their ugliness onto our towns and cities, and when they produce rubbish like this, you all of a sudden act all outraged.
Instead of 'doing an interpretation' of a tenement, why not just build one like the existing ones. If it's good enough to imitate (badly and with cheap materials), the building type is not in question. What is in question is the morality of the people trying to shortchange society with the architectural equivalent of Primark being dressed up to be Prada.
#25 Posted by Auntie Nairn on 10 Jun 2015 at 13:25 PM
Oh God, BC, yadda yadda, lefty modernist, yadda yadda, change the bloody record will you.
#26 Posted by stephen on 10 Jun 2015 at 13:33 PM
#24. Easy Shanters. Just because you lack the education for a 'nuanced' argument that can discern between more than two vague building eras doesn’t mean nobody else can. This scheme is awful. At least people agree with you for once.
#27 Posted by JINTY on 10 Jun 2015 at 21:39 PM
What an eyesore. Please everyone who lives on St Vincents Cres and Minerva Way object to these plans. Finneston will be a worse place if this goes ahead. We are already sffering from the new parking restrictions. What will be like if this goes ahead. PLEASE OBJECT?
#28 Posted by The Bairn on 10 Jun 2015 at 21:41 PM
@24 Prada and Primark eh...try and arrange the following words into a well known phrase or saying...
Shut, Bolted, Door , Horse, Stable !!
Maybe the previous critics / Primark donnas should stop harking back to past eras and embrace reality. Money drives everything. Someone please text Donald Trump and ask if he is interested in paying for a pastiche scheme where nobody can afford to live.
Where do the architects posting on UR live? Nirvana?
Shut, Bolted, Door , Horse, Stable !!
Maybe the previous critics / Primark donnas should stop harking back to past eras and embrace reality. Money drives everything. Someone please text Donald Trump and ask if he is interested in paying for a pastiche scheme where nobody can afford to live.
Where do the architects posting on UR live? Nirvana?
#29 Posted by Finniestonian on 10 Jun 2015 at 22:31 PM
If you click on the link to the Bell Orr development you will see mainly favourable responses, showing what can be achieved by architects who know the area well and respect it. Class attracts class.
#30 Posted by brian on 10 Jun 2015 at 22:57 PM
this is not only an eyesore but is completely impractical for the area
#31 Posted by Scarpa's Set Square on 11 Jun 2015 at 08:05 AM
Ok #28...so what you're essentially saying is that a low budget excuses atrocious design? Aye, very good. Sadly this isn't a question of budget - this is classic lowest-common-denominator rubbish - throw it up quickly for the biggest profit margin. This scheme could have been plonked anywhere.
This is a sensitive site and needs a far more considered response than this. Budget is irrelevant.
This is a sensitive site and needs a far more considered response than this. Budget is irrelevant.
#32 Posted by Shirly jack on 11 Jun 2015 at 20:07 PM
Why bother with a conservation area at all, if a monstrosity like that can be built.
#33 Posted by mertch La Pertch on 11 Jun 2015 at 22:10 PM
Looks like the brown envelopes are being dished out again. One last payday before that bunch in George Square are washed away completely. Glasgow was renowned for its archirechtural beauty, vigour and variety. Now its off the peg rubbish to match the rubbish in the streets. Please tell your freinds to object, object and object again.
#34 Posted by JanettaP on 11 Jun 2015 at 22:12 PM
What are Glasgow City Council thinking of. This area is clasic and beautiful and these new builds would ruin it. I had American relatives visiting recently and they loved the history and architecture of this place. What would they think of this carbunckle?.!
#35 Posted by minerva on 21 Jun 2015 at 21:24 PM
Ironically, in a street named after the Roman godess of wisdom and art, this building is a Gray monstrosity in such a beautiful area of glasgow.hopefully the councillors will find the wisdom to reject such a plan, and ensure finnieston remains one of glasgow´s finest area's.
#36 Posted by Samantha petrie on 15 Jul 2015 at 17:34 PM
A disgraceful eyesore to this up and coming area. Taking us backwards to a slum area - reminds me of the Anderston flats being demolished further up Argyle Street. Unimaginative blockscape. Totally out of character with surrounding buildings and destined to be a blot on the landscape.
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Would it not make sense to create some kind of street-level interaction? Huge volumes of traffic go past here for gigs and for the train station. Even a coffee shop would be a welcome addition.
I despair.