Dowanhill flats completion marks residential revival
August 6 2014
Bookending a B-listed terrace the Street Design partnership scheme on behalf of Red Eye Developments adopts a palette of natural stone and grey terracotta within its conservation area setting.
Marketed as The Observatory the project extends the building line along formerly vacant ground and incorporates a rooftop terrace and undercroft parking.
In their design statement the architects noted: “From the outset, officers at the Council accepted that a contemporary approach towards design would be appropriate, as it would complement the context whilst providing the building with its own identity, thus creating a strong sense of place on this parcel of land at the end of the long run of terraces.
“Large windows maximise natural light and bays animate the facade and provide depth to elevations, required for interest. The scale of the proposed window openings are influenced by the scale of the window openings to the adjacent terraced properties. Such design elements, in addition to good quality detailing, ensures a building of strong architectural merit is achieved.”
A roof terrace will be accessible to all occupants
A top floor is set back to marry with adjacent terraced housing
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10 Comments
#1 Posted by Art Vandelay on 6 Aug 2014 at 13:40 PM
Mmm, love a contextual response, me.
#2 Posted by clunk on 6 Aug 2014 at 13:57 PM
Sometimes i really wish i could un-see things i just happened to see....
#3 Posted by Ella h on 6 Aug 2014 at 16:02 PM
These are awful, on such a prime site too. Look like student halls. Flallout from recession - bad buildings on prime sites.
#4 Posted by Neil C on 6 Aug 2014 at 19:05 PM
Was the caption comment about the top floor marrying with adjacent housing copied and pasted from the builder's PR puffery? It's been a while since I saw such a hulkingly unsympathetic addition to a previously elegant streetscape. If you squint at this building from the gable end, it's just about acceptable, but taken in context with its surroundings this is a horribly jarring elevation.
#5 Posted by CADMonkey on 6 Aug 2014 at 21:30 PM
I think it would look fine in 2D.
#6 Posted by la hora de la verdad on 7 Aug 2014 at 09:14 AM
Always a problem when you try and make flats look like a terraced townhouse and accommodation look like a roof. Mawkish and shallow. I didn't realise we are so gullible.
#7 Posted by I heart Gourock on 7 Aug 2014 at 09:52 AM
Nice building on its own, although it does look slightly like an office block.
In context it's truly horrific.
In context it's truly horrific.
#8 Posted by John T on 7 Aug 2014 at 10:28 AM
I thought they said they were flats? All I see is an office block that would look better if it was constructed in Duplo building blocks
#9 Posted by Sven on 7 Aug 2014 at 10:52 AM
I really like this building now it is built. It works well with the streetscape immediately around it. I still have reservations over having a roof garden in such a cold and wet city, and massive reservations over parking (lets take 1.5 cars per apartment).
#10 Posted by Local on 7 Aug 2014 at 17:39 PM
Living on this road I winced when I saw the artists impression of the building (special note to the wart of a window on the taller 'bay') at the time questioning whether the architects had ever visited the site (I think they are based Manchester way). Now its built its a toss up between it and 'The Rock' next door in the eyesore awards. At least in 'The Rock' you can come away with change of a fiver, have you seen the price of the flats, and all sold, extortion.
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