Trongate Apartments proposal given all-clear by planners
June 10 2016
Trongate Apartments is the latest bid to redevelop the problematical site by Ventureline Ltd after several previous schemes for the plot fell through and will see an unlisted 1930’s building demolished together with incorporation of the B-listed 151 Trongate, itself rebuilt in the 1980’s.
Split into separate north and south wings divided by a service core the scheme will adopt a stone clad façade with full height window openings, adopting the classical proportions of the existing buildings in the process.
In their design statement architects Stallan Brand commented: “Whilst there are no ‘rear’ elevations, a change in materials from the richer primary elevation to a more ‘stripped back’ architecture references traditional Victorian warehouse architecture where a more ornate facade gives way to a more functional treatment.”
This twin approach will see Jura Limestone used for the front façade with grey brick to the rear, the latter of which will wrap around to the side elevations.
A dual approach is being taken to the north and south facades
The apartments will take their cue from historic warehouses
The front elevation will mirror the retained facade
The Trongate is set for a significant increase in scale and density over the coming years
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12 Comments
#1 Posted by Yaldy on 10 Jun 2016 at 10:15 AM
This is excellent news. Trongate will see as much development as cathedral street has over the coming years by the look of things (assuming that big gap site plan is still going ahead). Wonder if this will incentivise development of the block or two immediately opposite as well (the house of Scotland's biggest leather store et al).
#2 Posted by Fraser on 10 Jun 2016 at 11:32 AM
Excellent to see some growing development interest in this too long forgotten piece of the cities heritage. I like the design, too.
#3 Posted by QMD on 10 Jun 2016 at 12:09 PM
Great composition on the elevation. Well done!
#4 Posted by Osbert Lancaster on 10 Jun 2016 at 15:06 PM
The façade treatment is restrained. The plans include internal bedrooms, seems to me the position of these should be swapped with the bathrooms, maybe a glazed screen between these and the living?
#5 Posted by mr_mackays_tache on 10 Jun 2016 at 15:49 PM
wow that central flat in the core of the 7th and 8th floors is a belter.....
#6 Posted by Terra on 10 Jun 2016 at 15:50 PM
That looks great! If they can stay faithful to that design it'll be cracking.
#7 Posted by EM on 10 Jun 2016 at 15:51 PM
What about the façade of the small art deco building next door, should that not be incorporated into the new build?
#8 Posted by Billy on 10 Jun 2016 at 20:40 PM
Well this will help breathe new life into this area as well as the proposal to rejuvenate the east end of St Enochs and the development of the Selfridge's site. Hopefully the leather centre building can be demolished and the old Clydesdale bank extension opposite tesco metro. And it would be good to get rid of that car park east of St Enoch. A waste of valuable land . I am sure they could even incorporate a multi storey car park with an interesting design to replace the spaces there and be more efficient with the use of this space. The car park is a disgrace for a vibrant city centre. Gravel and potholes and exposed to the elements and they expect you to pay for it. The worst car park I have encountered. Let's put the space to better use in regenerating this whole area.
#9 Posted by E=mc2 on 11 Jun 2016 at 20:22 PM
That top floor to Argyle Street looks a trifle odd and unbalanced
#10 Posted by DevilsInTheDetail on 13 Jun 2016 at 19:39 PM
Is it just me that is a bit taken a back at how poor the plan is in terms of liveability e.g. deep plan with no windows in the bedroom spaces. The outside looks lovely but the inside is over development and is unsustainable.
#11 Posted by Big Channy on 14 Jun 2016 at 10:21 AM
Whit...naw...splutter...concrete...modernists...lefties... Motherwell Polytechnic...jings...crivvens... help ma boab [dies]
#12 Posted by Huh?! on 14 Jun 2016 at 19:02 PM
Those flats plans are inhumane! The warrant submission should be interesting re daylight to habitable rooms.
Why anyone would defend the elevations I've no idea, unless there are some vested interests at play. Whoever thought it might be clever to dwarf the height of any neighbouring building in the middle of a consistent elevation is either in it for the money, doesn't care or is architecturally illiterate. Chopping off the top 4 floors would improve it immeasurably. The facade is a weird dumb upside-down L shape with no reference to anything good ever and the treatment is otherwise so generic it could be an office building anywhere... but it's actually housing.
There are cues up and down the street as to how this could be designed well, and actually they only need to look two metres either side. Not to say it needs to be historicist but it could at least pretend to reference its context and not some random 'condo' in (insert name of American city).
Why anyone would defend the elevations I've no idea, unless there are some vested interests at play. Whoever thought it might be clever to dwarf the height of any neighbouring building in the middle of a consistent elevation is either in it for the money, doesn't care or is architecturally illiterate. Chopping off the top 4 floors would improve it immeasurably. The facade is a weird dumb upside-down L shape with no reference to anything good ever and the treatment is otherwise so generic it could be an office building anywhere... but it's actually housing.
There are cues up and down the street as to how this could be designed well, and actually they only need to look two metres either side. Not to say it needs to be historicist but it could at least pretend to reference its context and not some random 'condo' in (insert name of American city).
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