Glasgow’s tallest towers to be knocked down
November 25 2011
The Bluevale and Whitevale Street towers, each rising to 91m, are 31 storeys apiece containing 348 flats between them.
Resident surveys however show that 43 years after they were built the towers are no longer a popular address.
Low rise housing is set to take their place as the wider Gallowgate district is designated as a ‘Transformational Regeneration Area’.
Glasgow Housing Association has taken the decision to demolish them within two years, ensuring they will be absent come the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
London’s Barbican aside they are the tallest blocks of public housing in the United Kingdom.
Remaining tenants are already in process of being decanted
Two additional levels within the vertical slatted area at the towers summits, a drying room and winch level, lift the towers 6ft above Red Road
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12 Comments
#1 Posted by h.a. on 28 Nov 2011 at 10:07 AM
low rise (and density) housing will be the next mistake. unfortunately it is easier to knock down a tower than a whole neighbourhood
#2 Posted by Invisible Apocalypse on 28 Nov 2011 at 12:50 PM
'Glasgow’s very own ‘twin towers’...are to be demolished in the latest phase of east end regeneration.'
Glad to hear that Harold Camping will be flying one of the aeroplanes.
Glad to hear that Harold Camping will be flying one of the aeroplanes.
#3 Posted by Neil on 28 Nov 2011 at 13:50 PM
Shame - for all their flaws they're still better than the shambolic executive ghetto at Glasgow Harbour.
#4 Posted by Neil C on 28 Nov 2011 at 14:15 PM
As a former Glasgow Harbour resident, I find the phrase "shambolic executive ghetto" quite amusing - it's clearly written by someone who knows the square root of sod all about this development. I suspect poster #3 is equally ignorant about the problems at Whitevale and Bluevale and the various reasons they're being pulled down.
Glasgow Harbour has certainly been tarnished by the failure to develop the wider surroundings, but it can't be compared to the failed social housing experiments in Gallowgate in any regard.
Glasgow Harbour has certainly been tarnished by the failure to develop the wider surroundings, but it can't be compared to the failed social housing experiments in Gallowgate in any regard.
#5 Posted by Neil D on 28 Nov 2011 at 14:42 PM
If you painted the these flats white and stuck some glass on them they'd look identical to Glasgow Harbour.
#6 Posted by Neil E on 28 Nov 2011 at 17:36 PM
If you painted these flats white and stuck some glass on them it would be the architectural equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig or gold-leafing a turd.
#7 Posted by Tom on 28 Nov 2011 at 20:24 PM
Surely it would be better to try and refurbish these than demolish. It's a waste of resources, think Park Hill?
#8 Posted by Walt Disney on 29 Nov 2011 at 14:27 PM
Rehab would be a cost control nightmare. I always liked their sculptural quality but as a place to live they were / are a complete disaster. The analogy with Glasgow harbour is interesting in that the success of high density housing is often dependent on tenure and mix. 348 flats in the same tenure with pretty much 1 flat type is a recipe for disaster.
#9 Posted by RT on 30 Nov 2011 at 14:11 PM
These are my favourite Glasgow high-rise buildings. I think the scale, proportion and simplicity of the overall building is wonderful. Granted the construction quality and quality their living standard might be sub standard but their effect on the horizon will be missed.
#10 Posted by A Shaw on 25 Mar 2012 at 18:03 PM
i lived in these flats in the early 80's. i lived in the bedsit type flats first and then moved to the corner flats because they had a separate bedroom , these flats could be modernised inside and out.
#11 Posted by Janette on 19 Feb 2013 at 22:23 PM
We lived in these flats 23 high in the 70's loved it we had 2 bedroom one
#12 Posted by Marion on 22 Jul 2013 at 00:59 AM
The sooner these flats come down the better. I have lived here for over ten years and had to put up with the asbestos, dampness and lack of maintenance. The only people who want these monstrosities to stay are the ones who have never had to live here.
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