October 25 2018

Eldon Housing Association with Collective Architecture have prepared plans for 69 affordable homes at Coopersknowe Crescent on the outskirts of Galashiels.

Incorporating a mix of bungalows, colony-style homes and flats inspired by rural farm steadings the project is earmarked for an area of scrubland and finished in a simple palette of render with a sparing use of timber to signify entrances tiled roofs.

In a statement the architects wrote: “From the outset, the influences of the slope, orientation, adjacent farm steadings and the existing road layout led towards the creation of a number of courtyards with dwellings arranged to form a series of protected, sunny spaces, creating a characterful and irregular layout typical of the existing context.

“The housing mix of bungalows, one-and-a-half storey family houses and two-and-a-half storey colonies have been carefully located on the site in response to the neighbouring Coopersknowe Crescent houses and to take advantage of the topography.”

David Narro Associates and Armour Construction Consultants are also assisting with the build.

7 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 25 Oct 2018 at 13:51 PM

I think the 70's called and asked for their design book back.

Plain, no detailing or depth with roof forms that will fail over time. Housing types selected for their exclusivity rather than their livability.

Basic point -- would the architects be happy to live in these homes?
Experience suggests not.

How all this fits in the with the Ponderosa style builds next door is anyone's guess.

#2 Posted by Sigh on 25 Oct 2018 at 13:51 PM

Looks like another wonderful car-dependent 'burb. Not a sign of decent cycle infrastructure or pedestrian-friendly streets/roads. Poor show.

#3 Posted by Egbert on 26 Oct 2018 at 12:19 PM

#1 Hi, FBoT. I'm an architect and I'd be happy to live in something that looked like this - I think architecturally these are fine, good, clean crisp and modern. Not much overtly 70s about them, unless you mean the lack of recon stone quoins, uPVC mock-sash windows, carriage lamps and the other gob-on geegaws that market housebuilders normally adorn their cut-price boxes with. Calling them 70s is an odd choice of insult given that was the last decade when housing was subject to meaningful space standards - the homes of the period up to 1979 typically stand up pretty well against anything built since in terms of space, natural light, practicality and storage. And yes, I live in one (ex-social, built 1968).

#4 Posted by FHM on 26 Oct 2018 at 14:01 PM

I think "Fat Bloke On Tour" is a new incarnation of "Big Chantelle"; coming across as more erudite to mask their identity.

#5 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 26 Oct 2018 at 14:13 PM

Lates 70's social housing -- ran onto into the early 80's for the schemes that sneaked past the punk monetarists.

Not happy with the valley gutters, the Hobbit sanctuary ground floors or the flat expressionless gables.

Then you have the bingo card techno babble to describe them that appeals to nobody apart from other architects.

#6 Posted by Kurt Russell on 26 Oct 2018 at 15:41 PM

#4 I'm Sure There Have Been Many Who Have Thought This. My Conclusion, Having Close Read All The Aping Comments Is That Fat Bloke on Tour is Either a) A Russian Bot, or b) The Thing (of 1982). Sad, Really.
However, Rule #1 Applies. Do Not Engage.

#7 Posted by David Thomson on 1 Nov 2018 at 12:38 PM

"take advantage of the topography" this being the spoil from the tip beyond. The smell down their is shocking, cant believe they are still developing sites in this location.

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