June 15 2020

Paisley has kicked off the latest phase of its Abbey Quarter masterplan with an application to build 73 apartments for social rent and shared equity on Smithhills street by Hypostyle Architects.

The town centre regeneration initiative forms a key plank of efforts to revitalise the urban core with phase IV completing regeneration of an entire block stretching from Gauze Street to the Paisley-Glasgow railway viaduct.

Currently underutilised as a car park and construction yard the3 0.77ha site will host six pavilion blocks fronting an access road off Lawn Street, completing perimeter street frontages.

In an accompanying design statement, the architects wrote: “Massing to the internal ‘square” pavilion blocks is different to the perimeter blocks. These blocks are designed to have frontage to all sides, they are highly visible from all roads and the railway route.

“Depth has been added to facades, with steel balcony structures protruding from the buildings. These provide enhanced amenity space to the resident within each block. Ground floor units are designed with private garden spaces.

“All blocks have main communal entry to the street and secondary access to the private garden areas to the rear. The very nature of the layout enhances overlooking and security for the homes and residents.”

Protruding brick detailing will be used to pick out key areas of the design with projecting black steel and wooden brise soleil balconies adding additional depth.

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