April 27 2023

A 'gateway' co-living tower on Sauchiehall Street has been cut down in size by its backers, reducing its height from 13 to nine floors amidst concern over its scale and massing.

An associated reduction in apartments from 87 to 73 will result, with relatively small studios and one-bedroom apartments benefitting from generous shared amenity spaces.

Once again led by Consensus Capital and ADP Architecture the scheme will retain B-listed facades at 520 Sauchiehall Street and 341 Renfrew Street, the former serving as a shared foyer. A ground floor shop unit is positioned alongside and a courtyard behind.

A setback sixth floor will further reduce its street presence with a larger rear setback acting as an external workspace for residents.

Promoting the proposal as a means to arrest the decline of the street the applicants wrote: "The main street elevations are defined by two robust side-by-side frames that re-instate the historic building line and articulate the original pattern of development along the street in narrow feu.

"Intermittent horizontal elements serve to give the building a vertical emphasis, visually connecting the upper levels of the building back to the street."

High-quality materials such as darkly pigmented 'polished' concrete and bronze/brass cloured anodised aluminium adorn the principal facade with gables presented as simple modular panels.

12 Comments

#1 Posted by MV on 27 Apr 2023 at 11:17 AM

Odd.

#2 Posted by David on 27 Apr 2023 at 15:12 PM

still feels to big to me. but i kinda like the eclectic aggregated form, which fits with the immediate context. tbh anything positive, particularly new resi on Sauchiehall Street should be warmly welcomed...

#3 Posted by Ben on 27 Apr 2023 at 18:20 PM

The fact that it is retaining the two listed facades is a great aspect of this scheme, will look forward to seeing it begin, should be a great addition to the street.

#4 Posted by Scott on 28 Apr 2023 at 15:42 PM

Sauchiehall Street is in dire need of investment. This will be a welcome addition - hats off to the owner and designers. The streetscaping works have failed terribly, the vacant commercial units and lack of investment by landlords into the residential buildings above the units really needs addressed.

#5 Posted by David on 28 Apr 2023 at 16:20 PM

#4 The streetscaping works have actually been really successful, and the section between Charing Cross and Rose Street is looking the best it has done for years. Low vacancy rates, thriving independent businesses, and there is ongoing restoration to some of the historic buildings. I hope that Phase 2 between Rose Street and Renfield Street has the same success.

#6 Posted by Gordon on 28 Apr 2023 at 19:28 PM

No no...this is illiterate architecture!

#7 Posted by Lovely on 29 Apr 2023 at 10:57 AM

@5 The streetscaping works are an expensive failure, unpleasant to walk down and unpleasant to drive down so what was the point other than to use up some very costly stone?

#8 Posted by Pav the bouncer on 29 Apr 2023 at 22:10 PM

#7 ever walked down the street? It works as lots of people use it at all times of day. I see lots of people using the public seating, cycle paths and outdoor separating of bars. I'll admit there are problems with the food delivery drivers (bikes and cars) parking anywhere they want but to be fair as found in Brighton they've only been in the country a few hours. Time for cars to jog-on and make streets safer for pedestrians - which this does.

#9 Posted by Lovely on 30 Apr 2023 at 07:48 AM

@8 Loving the way that the chaotic vehicles that still very much litter this badly designed street are somehow the fault of ‘immigrants’ rather than the designers.

#10 Posted by Bob ra Builder on 1 May 2023 at 17:24 PM

#9
So designers expect to cure society's problems through street design? Fantastic!
Keep selling those used cars 'lovely'

#11 Posted by Oddly_ on 1 May 2023 at 21:17 PM

Interesting, shame there is no chance it will happen

#12 Posted by Lovely on 2 May 2023 at 13:20 PM

@9 Exactly.

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