November 13 2020

DO-Architecture have unveiled 49 apartments for mid-market rent in Govanhill for Lowther Homes, part of the Wheatley Group.

The £6.5m brownfield development stands on Inglefield Street at the northern edge of Govanhill overlooking the Millenium Seed Bank Doocot by Studio Kap and the mainline railway into Central Station.

Consisting of a deck-access pavilion and a smaller flanking block, to defer to nearby tenements, the build re-establishes the street edge and frames parkland. The client brief called for increased density on the inner-city site while improving connections, with a generous open deck providing access to five homes on each landing.

In a press statement, the architects wrote: "The open-access deck enclosures are fully visually permeable, enabled by using full-height vertical fins which span from floor to ceiling to provide balustrade and enclosure, but their openness offers dramatic views across the city and the penetration of daylight, creating supervised spaces where we feel comfortable to walk, stop and talk or play, ultimately encouraging social habitation and neighbour interaction."

First proposed in January 2018 the properties were handed over in September.

9 Comments

#1 Posted by Fush and Chups on 13 Nov 2020 at 14:44 PM

It's the 1960s/70s all over again. I thought deck access flats were a thing of the past.
Who in their right mind wants to linger in that space. It looks like a cage.

#2 Posted by Kate Jones on 13 Nov 2020 at 14:58 PM

#1 Some groups have a cultural practice of standing around chatting in big groups on the street which can be a bit intimidating to others, I guess these decks give them somewhere to stand less intrusive to others.

£6.5m million seems to be a lot for these 49 apartments, yes it's around £130k a piece but you would think they'd get better for that price.

#3 Posted by TheFakeArchitect on 13 Nov 2020 at 15:01 PM

Lets not kid ourselves here, open access decks are only used when its easier to get the layout to work, and of course argue that "dual aspect" is achieved. I bet the client called for such a thing, given it normally results in the loss of a stair..

#4 Posted by David on 13 Nov 2020 at 16:28 PM

These are glorified single aspect flats lets be honest here. The sooner GCC Planning get their heads in gear and create policies which get rid of deck access the better...

#5 Posted by Aye Mac on 13 Nov 2020 at 21:05 PM

I pass these flats often and I really like the look of them.

#6 Posted by Charlie_ on 14 Nov 2020 at 14:21 PM

Don't see the issue at all. My best mate has a south facing deck accsss landing and to us its a sun soaked balcony: coffee table, fold up chairs, potted plants, beer. The negativity around these parts gets pretty wearisome, especially in response to Glasgow proposals

#7 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 15 Nov 2020 at 16:48 PM

They look great.
The detractors should take a trip away from their keyboards and pay them a visit.

#8 Posted by Inahuf on 16 Nov 2020 at 09:13 AM

#2 if they’re intimidating on the street, I’d hate to have them right outside my front door!
It’s the lack of a semi private space as a buffer that’s the issue, especially if you’re a more private soul. When you can’t open a window without drawing in everyone else’s noise, and neighbours hearing what’s going on indoors, your place doesn’t feel your own for many.
These only work if everyone gets on, likes that there’s no privacy in their only outdoor space & one of their rooms, and there’s no pandemic stopping you opening your deck facing windows for fear of breaking the 2m rule.

#9 Posted by IM on 17 Nov 2020 at 13:24 PM

Look superb! Real quality and sharp finish. Between this and the work Collective have done in the west and EC in the south, Glasgow is producing some great social housing.

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