Watkin Jones submit latest student housing plans
June 11 2014
The developer has appointed Fletcher Joseph Architects to design the scheme which encompasses five separate blocks arranged around a new public space intended to open up pedestrian links to Dumbarton Road.
This will also open out onto the Kelvin Walk master plan, which ultimately aims to provide a pedestrian link between the Transport Museum and Kelvingrove.
In their design statement Fletcher Joseph say: “The proposed six, seven and eight storeys block step down the site to maximise daylighting through the scheme whilst acknowledging the surrounding context and the site topography. The height of the uppermost blocks tie in closely with the ridge height of the existing mill building, Block 2 ties in with the parapet of the archive buildings and Block 5 continues the rhythm and massing set up by the adjacent residential flatted development.
“The proposed top floors have been set back generally and the elevations are varied to create a light mix of glass and zinc fenestration at roof level.”
An un-listed brick water tower will be rebuilt to accommodate a stairwell for one of the new blocks.
A feature water tower will be retained to anchor the new scheme
Facing brick will be used to match the existing mill architecture
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11 Comments
#1 Posted by Sven on 11 Jun 2014 at 13:33 PM
Very 1970's in design. Does Glasgow need more student housing? We must have reached saturation point some time ago.
#2 Posted by Rupert on 11 Jun 2014 at 14:05 PM
I think I may be commiting the cardinal architectural sin of judging a building by it renders, but this does not look particular inspiring. Does anyone know of any stand out examples of student housing?
#3 Posted by Matt Loader on 11 Jun 2014 at 14:24 PM
There are so many good examples Rupert it's hard to know where to begin.
That said, Oxbridge provides huge numbers of good examples - Powell and Moya's St Johns College Cambridge for instance, or Allies and Morrison at Fitzwilliam College and Newham College Cambridge. More recently Niall McLaughlin Architects at Somerville College, Oxford and Grafton Architects at the University of Limerick are good pieces of architecture.
That said, Oxbridge provides huge numbers of good examples - Powell and Moya's St Johns College Cambridge for instance, or Allies and Morrison at Fitzwilliam College and Newham College Cambridge. More recently Niall McLaughlin Architects at Somerville College, Oxford and Grafton Architects at the University of Limerick are good pieces of architecture.
#4 Posted by BIM on 11 Jun 2014 at 16:21 PM
Can people please, please, please, PLEASE stop using SketchUp? If you must use it, then please, please, please, PLEASE stop using it in promotional/publicity material. It's embarrassing.
#5 Posted by Charlie_ on 11 Jun 2014 at 22:49 PM
Yet more residential density and enlivenment brought to a long derelict corner of the inner city. Does Glasgow really need more student housing? yes please!
#6 Posted by TepidMouse on 12 Jun 2014 at 11:09 AM
I agree with the poster Charlie above. This is further infill density in the city core. The city is crying out for more student accommodation which will free up the rental market
#7 Posted by wonky on 12 Jun 2014 at 12:35 PM
I agree with Charlie & TepidMouse in terms of the positives of city core densification- but I would really like to see these kinds of projects upscale their quality- could the spec not be hardwired with a long term plan for eventual conversion to residential use?
#8 Posted by D to the R on 12 Jun 2014 at 13:24 PM
Student housing is seasonal ... who fills the units when the students all naff back off to Mummy and Daddy? Ghost Town .... On the scheme itself it looks like it was rendered by a four year old. You had the tools ... couldny use them
#9 Posted by Partick Bateman on 12 Jun 2014 at 13:31 PM
Welcome to Partick, twinned with Beijing.
#10 Posted by Mac Mac on 12 Jun 2014 at 15:55 PM
Why can they not do mixed use, follow the traditional urban blocks of Partick and scale.
Constantly trying to re-invent the wheel and continue to not learn from the horrors of the Glasgow Harbour housing nightmare. This is not a long term development fit for the city, just a short term cash bonanza.
Constantly trying to re-invent the wheel and continue to not learn from the horrors of the Glasgow Harbour housing nightmare. This is not a long term development fit for the city, just a short term cash bonanza.
#11 Posted by monkey9000 on 12 Jun 2014 at 17:17 PM
A scheme so well considered the published information consists of a diagram drawn in Biro and very fussy overly complicated 3D model. Got alarm bells ringing here!
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