RSNO unveil new headquarters
February 7 2012
The £14m development would provide rehearsal space, a learning centre, recital hall and a 600 seat auditorium - made possible by a £7m Scottish Government grant and £5m of support from Glasgow City Council.
The RSNO will raise the £2m shortfall and finance the fit out, including the latest internet based digital technology to facilitate increased connections with schools and community groups.
Designed by a team led by GCC’s chief architect, Kerr Robertson, the scheme is expected to commence construction in autumn 2012 and complete by summer 2014 – subject to planning permission.
Leader of Glasgow City Council Gordon Matheson: “We’re delighted to be investing in one of Scotland’s premier performance spaces, which will create a centre of musical excellence for both the city and nation. These ambitious plans will help to realise new ambitions for the RSNO and enhance the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as a world-class performance space. The physical refurbishment will also offer Glasgow Music greater flexibility in attracting both new and existing talent to the performance space.”
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's northern entrance will be remodelled
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22 Comments
#1 Posted by colour blind on 7 Feb 2012 at 15:14 PM
Is there a problem with the graphics file for this image? When I click to open enlarged the image, the building frontage appears blue! Must be something wrong with it I guess.......
#2 Posted by cmk on 7 Feb 2012 at 19:39 PM
A £7m Government grant and £5m from the city council surely makes this a publicly funded project so why wasn't it advertised and tender in accordance with European rules?
#3 Posted by Puzzled on 7 Feb 2012 at 20:03 PM
That does seem strange for such a significant project. I had no idea the council even had an architects department. Probably be built by city building
#4 Posted by Robert on 7 Feb 2012 at 21:58 PM
What an eyesore this is.
#5 Posted by KJP on 7 Feb 2012 at 22:12 PM
Trouble is, when something REALLY brutal like this comes along all critisism is lost amongst the general slagging that goes on. The banter is fun but real points that should be made are often lost as a consequence. This is an important project for Glasgow, why then is it so bloody awfu and who on earth is Kerr Robertson?
#6 Posted by Colour Blind on 7 Feb 2012 at 23:29 PM
A bluetalist monument.
#7 Posted by Boab on 8 Feb 2012 at 06:33 AM
Kerr Robertson is Glasgow City Councils "Top" Architect
The project will probably be built by "Glasgow City Build"
Is it me or does this all sound a little to "Cosy"
How Glasgow City Council get around EU Procurement legislation is asstonishing
Jobs for the boys
The project will probably be built by "Glasgow City Build"
Is it me or does this all sound a little to "Cosy"
How Glasgow City Council get around EU Procurement legislation is asstonishing
Jobs for the boys
#8 Posted by Gordon on 8 Feb 2012 at 08:43 AM
It's about as inspiring as a mediocre 3rd year Uni project. Very disappointing all in – given its location, you would have expected something a bit more contextual rather than the old dropped-out-the-sky trick. Not that either the bus station or the Galleries are of any great merit, but it would have been good to see something with a bit of mass and solidity to it, rather than just another Projecting Glass Box ™. Still, got to love the classic sketched sectional perspective...wooft!
#9 Posted by perplexus on 8 Feb 2012 at 10:14 AM
The building is not inspiring but what surprises me the most is the complete lack of interaction with the street.. its just like a back entrance. What about trying to revitalize the street and create a proper public space/building?
#10 Posted by Methilated Spirits on 8 Feb 2012 at 11:25 AM
Why does this have to look so hideous and impersonal? Do the future occupiers of the building actually think it looks good - I very much doubt it! Yes, I agree it's absolute rubbish with no redeeming features, but how can it be stopped and something better designed instead? The RSNO deserves much better than this!
#11 Posted by Think about it... on 8 Feb 2012 at 11:33 AM
Engage your brains folks (and learn to spell, Boab)... they're doing the architecture in house and as someone pointed out, it will probably be built by City Building. Presumably that's why they don't need to go through the usual OJEU nonsense - they're not procuring anything!!!
#12 Posted by Dinkers on 8 Feb 2012 at 12:09 PM
What an utter disgrace, it's hideous! What are the GCC planning authorities thinking about? I despair.
#13 Posted by 3 Tenners on 8 Feb 2012 at 12:27 PM
I think you're being a bit harsh! Although something has been lost from the original hand drawn axo, I like the potential for layering and the play of materials. Shame the CAD image reverts to the ubiquitous hit/miss windows. Be bolder!
#14 Posted by stacey on 8 Feb 2012 at 12:46 PM
I agree with you perplexus. It would be good to see something that didn't look like a back door especially for people arriving in Glasgow via the bus station whose first encounter with the city is this street (which is really a road at present).
#15 Posted by dirige on 8 Feb 2012 at 14:04 PM
The section differs a bit from the render. I prefer the section.
#16 Posted by KJP on 8 Feb 2012 at 14:35 PM
#11 £7 m is coming from the Scottish Government, you and I, £5 m from the council
(Glasgow rate payers) therefor a publicly funded project. Why not then through OJEU. By the way, you're not Steven Purcell are you?
(Glasgow rate payers) therefor a publicly funded project. Why not then through OJEU. By the way, you're not Steven Purcell are you?
#17 Posted by Dandelion on 8 Feb 2012 at 16:30 PM
another pish building for this sad street. Get some one decent for this gig, there are quite a few local boys to choose from but GCC Architect KR isn't one of them
#18 Posted by Boss on 8 Feb 2012 at 16:54 PM
My word that building is a dogs dinner.. Kerr Robertson? I don't believe he's and architect is he not just a project director..Anyway what in gods name is the council leader doing commenting on this.. As it says its still to get PP.. Is the faithful leader pushing this one through the planning system? seems overly confident..
#19 Posted by Enjoy on 8 Feb 2012 at 19:01 PM
WTF?
We are in recession so all design sensibilities are thrown out the window???
Between this and 110 Queen Street, I really do despair.
We are in recession so all design sensibilities are thrown out the window???
Between this and 110 Queen Street, I really do despair.
#20 Posted by Big Charlene fae the Gorbils wae the icecream van that sells the best MrWhippy in Glesga! on 8 Feb 2012 at 19:08 PM
Bless Kerr Robertson's little cotton socks. He's been given a gig like this to design a significant Scottish building. But what's a bloke to do whose architecture posse is Glasgow City council. Oh, I know, design the building in the much loved style of brutalism. I mean, everybody loves some brutalism.
P.S Who was Kerr Roberston's competition for chief architect within GCC -- the guy with the etch-a-sketch?
P.S Who was Kerr Roberston's competition for chief architect within GCC -- the guy with the etch-a-sketch?
#21 Posted by Brian on 9 Feb 2012 at 13:28 PM
Why is the council approving these carbuncles.the queen st development wouldnt look out of place on clyde or in it!
#22 Posted by Dial-a-lama on 10 Feb 2012 at 20:15 PM
Having dealt with GCC on a number of city centre projects I have always found that they are rather demanding (to a point) when it comes to active frontages at ground level, yet this seems to offers nothing in the way of interaction and activity at ground level. Seems fishy that it's been done in-house and not been subjected to the same scrutiny as some other projects. I mean even the CC Queen Street project that everyone is moaning about has something at ground level that generates some public activity - even if it is a retail unit that could sit empty. Retail isn't really the right solution here but, hey it's KR's job to solve that issue!
Also, not to be a moaning Millie but I find Glasgow can be quite grey and clouding, often wet. I wonder how dull, grey and cold this building will look on an average day.....
Also, not to be a moaning Millie but I find Glasgow can be quite grey and clouding, often wet. I wonder how dull, grey and cold this building will look on an average day.....
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