March 10 2021

Radisson Blu architect Alan Dunlop has set out alternative plans for a 150-room expansion of the Glasgow landmark, after plans for a 'bold' aluminium rainscreen rooftop extension elicited an outcry.

Plans drawn up by Maith Design seek to extend the monolithic form of the current building by resting a three-storey picture frame extension on structural colonnades around a recessed louvre-screened plant area. This drew scorn from many observers, not least Dunlop himself who labelled the plans as 'over-scaled, brutal and clumsy' while others such as architect Andrew Brown asked: "If it ain't broke why fix it?"

Now Dunlop has come forward with sketch proposals for another dramatic intervention, accommodating the necessary additional accommodation within a projecting tower that would stand as a more sympathetic 'foil' to the body of the hotel below.

Dunlop told Urban Realm: "I discovered that all the original concept and context analysis supporting the roof extension is copied directly from my own writing. The document includes street views, block plans and multiple 3D views but concludes with the most elementary, least imaginative and crudest, commercially driven proposal. Therefore, I spent a few hours planning how you might extend the Radisson in a way which is conducive to the ideas and context fundamental to its original design. Then made these rough sketches.

"A tower, rising from the courtyard could give you, by my estimation 150 rooms. The height of the tower is determined by the adjoining buildings included as context within the proposed extension but it could be higher. This is just one simple idea, sketched in plan and drawn roughly afterwards, I know there are others."

Architecture critic Robin Ward commented: "This exhilarating building, conceived two decades ago, remains a landmark of contemporary and contextual design. The front elevation - a full-height, canted copper screen like the hull of a great ship - was inspired by Glasgow's industrial past, rendered in a completely original way. Showy as it is, both in materiality and manner, it was scaled to fit the existing Victorian streetscape. The proposal, to add a clunky addition above it, is by far the most ill conceived intervention I have seen recently and the least respectful of its host.

"Alan Dunlop's alternative -- a slender tower, perhaps with a reflection of the copper screen's ship's prow at its peak - would be preferable; an evolution rather than a desecration of a unique design."

For now the fate of the hotel rests in the hands of city planners who have the final say in whether to allow the scheme to proceed in its present form.

26 Comments

#1 Posted by Yep on 10 Mar 2021 at 09:43 AM

F**ks sake that man can draw.

I like the tower. Do it!

#2 Posted by MV on 10 Mar 2021 at 10:39 AM

Wow. It’s a sad day when you can plonk the Livingston Tower on top of the hotel and it looks more convincing than the Maith Scheme!!

The plan would be a bit contrived, right enough. But still a huge improvement.

#3 Posted by Paul Mitchell on 10 Mar 2021 at 10:55 AM

It shouldn't work but it does ...

AD's original decapitated Stegosaurus design vibe that faces onto Argyle Street.

Oswald Street on the other hand is poor -- the curtains just waste what little presence it has.

The proposed extension is poor at every level / at every corner.

Main thing is that the hotel wants to expand -- shows that they are making money and need more space.

Something to be celebrated.

#4 Posted by Craig on 10 Mar 2021 at 11:05 AM

# 2 and#3 Ohhh, the Glasgow banter.
Brilliant drawings, very interesting proposition indeed, needs refining I'm sure Alan would agree but excellent idea

#5 Posted by Cadmonkey on 10 Mar 2021 at 11:20 AM

Its all very well proposing this tower scribble idea. But there may be technical issues why it cant economically happen.
E.g. The existing foundations may have spare capacity to carry the current proposal. But can they support a huge tower, if so why were they grossly overdesigned originally?
Its all very well drawing pretty pictures of imaginary schemes you are not appointed for, but to go public wit them and crit and snipe other architect's work isn't a great look to portray the profession.

#6 Posted by Cyril Sneer on 10 Mar 2021 at 12:03 PM

Sour grapes and 80’s fantasy doodles. Maybe he should buy the hotel and pay for it himself?

#7 Posted by CRAIG on 10 Mar 2021 at 12:41 PM

I was not around in the 80's but they do not look like doodles to me or pretty pictures. Very accomplished sketches instead of a much more interesting proposal. Just sayin'

#8 Posted by Colin Chapman on 10 Mar 2021 at 13:37 PM

"I discovered that all the original concept and context analysis supporting the roof extension is copied directly from my own writing." Therefore, I spent a few hours planning how you might extend the Radisson in a way which is conducive to the ideas and context fundamental to its original design. Then made these rough sketches." Not an architect but I think this is enough justification for these great drawings.

#9 Posted by Furlough on 10 Mar 2021 at 13:40 PM

Does he not have any work to do that he's actually been appointed for?

#10 Posted by Sir Ano on 10 Mar 2021 at 14:17 PM

These sketches may be prettier than Maith's proposals but in the end of the day they're irrelevant and a tad cringey. Anyone can draw a pretty picture if you don't need to abide by the constraints of the real world.

#11 Posted by Colin Chapman on 10 Mar 2021 at 14:23 PM

#9 I believe he is involved in building a bridge to Ireland. Heard him on BBC radio four this morning talking about it.

#12 Posted by SHOUTING ANDREW on 10 Mar 2021 at 16:10 PM

It's a bit hypocritical for Mr Dunlop to wax lyrical about "his own" building (a public hotel) responding to the street with an alien and odd looking curved copper prow that does not suit it's context at all while publicly deriding a proposed roof-top extension that is just following the architectural language he has already established. The existing hotel does nothing to improve the streetscape, and the unsubtle protrusion sitting morosely overhead like some redundant and cheap canopy is clearly some architectural waffle used to justify buying a nice new green pen.

In trying to argue that the new Lead Consultant is copying his contextual analysis, Mr Dunlop himself has slightly shot himself in the foot after his proposed sketch alternative for a tower is pretty much a replica of "Tait's Tower" from the Empire Exhibition in the 1930's.

#13 Posted by Colin Chapman on 10 Mar 2021 at 16:22 PM

What utter rubbish SHOUTING ANDREW. I worked in the hotel it was the best time of my working career. The guest reaction to it was always incredible also the various celebs that came and went loved it. I've moved on now and regret it.

#14 Posted by Malcolm Fraser on 11 Mar 2021 at 09:56 AM

Best contemporary hotel in a sea of hotel rubbish in Glasgow and a hugely vigorous part of the city's grain. All of us should get on the planning portal and support Alan's defence.

#15 Posted by Furlough on 11 Mar 2021 at 11:26 AM

#11 Funnily enough I was talking about that this morning too. Reminds me I must submit my fee for self-appointment.

#16 Posted by Colin Chapman on 11 Mar 2021 at 13:38 PM

You post rubbish anonymously on an architecture website. What appointment fees could you be due.

#17 Posted by Furlough on 11 Mar 2021 at 15:39 PM

Better this than taking up airspace on the radio, but thanks for confirming my point. Have a good day.

#18 Posted by Findo Gask on 12 Mar 2021 at 10:31 AM

From a position of ignorance about matters architectural generally, and Mr Dunlop's exalted reputation, I think the front elevation (if that's the correct term) with the tower looks like a home wifi router, whereas the Maith version is more like a rack of servers. As a lay person, I've never really liked that building and hadn't realised it was considered a design masterpiece. I once found myself standing next to Maradonna in the foyer, though, so there's that.

#19 Posted by Scottish architect, still furloughed. on 12 Mar 2021 at 10:58 AM

18 I sat in the foyer with the Barcelona team and Xavi bought me a beer in 2012. I think the hotel is brilliant but then I'm an architect. Whatever you think of Alan Dunlop every time I turn on the radio or watch the news he seems to be on it and every time I have also heard him promote architecture and architects in Scotland. That is what we and the rias need at this time. I don't whether I will ever have a job again.

#20 Posted by Cadmonkey on 12 Mar 2021 at 11:59 AM

How much will Mr Dunlop's mindless unaffordable "vision" of a bridge connecting Scotland and NI cost us tax payers in "consultant fees" when we can least afford it?
After being pushed by SNP on it Government now being forced to go through motions to demonstrate its a pipe dream.
I'm going to say £50m for starters.

#21 Posted by Scottish architect, still furloughed. on 12 Mar 2021 at 12:41 PM

20 listening to BBC Radio 2 for my lockdown sins yesterday along with 8 million others he sounded very convincing and again promoted Scottish architects and engineers as the best in the world.

#22 Posted by Findo Gask on 12 Mar 2021 at 13:00 PM

#19, I was being a wee bit facetious - I don't really actively dislike the building, it would be more accurate to say that it is hasn't made a significant impression on me, but I've never really stopped to consider it properly. I'm sure it has design and technical qualities that I don't have the knowledge to appreciate.

I happened to be in there one night when there was a Scotland/Argentina friendly on, hence Maradona, and also Carlos Tevez et al. None of them bought me a beer though.

Promoting Scottish architects is no bad thing, and I hope conditions start to pick up soon for everyone working in the sector.

#23 Posted by Colin Chapman on 12 Mar 2021 at 14:49 PM

#20 # 12 Talking to eight million people or posting rubbish anonymously on an architectural website. mmmm hard to choose what works best for architects in scotland.

#24 Posted by Andrew Taylor on 13 Mar 2021 at 23:00 PM

Alan Dunlop. Your alternative scheme is fantastic by comparison. Forgive me, but i can't help but ask, why are you not commissioned to deliver the next evolution of what is clearly a growing hotel, which you have unrivalled and intimate knowledge of?

#25 Posted by Fudge on 15 Mar 2021 at 09:45 AM

The tower scheme, if technically possible, is the more compositionally balanced and sensitive solution. Height can be done in Glasgow, wish the same could be said for Edinburgh.

#26 Posted by RankieLass on 18 Mar 2021 at 12:14 PM

If these are considered great sketches it's well seen that most of the architectural profession have forgotten how to draw.

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