M74 sport park plan unveiled
July 15 2014
GUSM74, a fusion of art, sport and urban design, will see the motorway undercroft transformed into a skateboard, BMX and free-running arena, subject to consultation with urban sports enthusiasts and the wider public. to inform the detailed development of the proposals.
Design proposals have been drawn up in a collaborative approach with Glasgow Urban Sports and Keppie, who will then deliver the project, which has the support of Creative Scotland.
Lead designer Toby Paterson, himself a skate boarder, said: “The park will have a strong visual aesthetic, sculptural presence and functional, yet non-prescriptive architect – we’re trying to redefine the preconceived notion of what a public park might be, so while the benches act as seating, where people can observe the space, the benches are also there to be skated and used so the park is open to user interpretation.”
Gerry Grams, Glasgow City Council’s city design advisor added: “In a local context, the park has the potential to act as a physical and psychological landmark. It provides a green space within what was a heavily industrial area of the city. What’s particularly exciting about the park is that it offers the opportunity to link existing and new pedestrian and cycling links the area currently lacks, at the same time as acting an intriguing conduit destination, attracting cultural tourist’s route between city centre/ GOMA and Tramway.”
Key features of the design include swimming pool bowls, ‘china town’ banks, skateable seating and landscaping.
The disused space could become a focus for urban sports enthusiasts
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3 Comments
#1 Posted by Neil C on 15 Jul 2014 at 15:31 PM
This looks absolutely fantastic! It's a really imaginative use of otherwise redundant land, and it'd be a huge draw for urban sports fans from throughout the city and beyond.
#2 Posted by Sven on 16 Jul 2014 at 14:35 PM
Good idea but as a practical man I can't see any lighting (it is under a bridge so parts of the site will always be in shade and by December it will be dark 4pm-9am) or drainage (Glasgow gets over 1200mm pa which is very high)...are the biking holes just going to fill with water?
Who is also going to upkeep this in future? (GCC?)
Who is also going to upkeep this in future? (GCC?)
#3 Posted by Scott Maltman on 16 Jul 2014 at 15:47 PM
This is the conceptual idea not detailed plans. Lighting and drainage will need to be taken into account along with a list of other things such as upkeep
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