March 16 2021

Govan Housing Association has brought forward plans for the first phase of a major mixed-use development where the famous Harland & Wolff shipyard once stood at Water Row in Govan.

A design team led by Collective Architecture with Rankin Fraser, Carbon Futures, G3 Engineers and Brown + Wallace have prepared a submission for 92 affordable homes and a community-controlled commercial spaced embedded within a high-quality public realm.

A periphery colonnade helps to define the streetscape, activating Govan Cross and Water Row whilst enclosing a more secluded interior residential courtyard.

Picking up on the fenestration pattern employed at the former British Linen Bank nearby, the new blocks will display a continuity of openings and massing. Finished predominantly in red and grey/buff brick, facades will be enlivened through the use of large-format copper coloured metal panels at recessed balconies, dormers and closes.

Arranged across five separate buildings arranged above six ground-floor commercial units the development will help Govan pivot back towards the river and a new pedestrian footbridge to Partick. 

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Kate on 16 Mar 2021 at 12:43 PM

I like this, though they are pretty similar in terms of materiality and appearance to almost all housing proposals in Glasgow at the moment. The gable ends are a nice nod to the original shipyard sheds though...

#2 Posted by David on 16 Mar 2021 at 16:10 PM

This looks terrific. Agree #1 many new housing proposals in Glasgow follow this aesthetic, but it is a good thing! Glad that the city can hopefully lead the way with examples of good quality housing after years of dross in Scotland.

Can't help but feel a twinge of sadness that the original sheds are no longer there, imagine what an amazing gallery or museum space that it could have made, right on the river front too.

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 16 Mar 2021 at 16:32 PM

The whole area needs more trees.
Offer some shelter and warmth to the square.

The building themselves look better than the usual / current HA stodge -- although it would be good to see the roof-spaces turned into accommodation.

Another 12 attic flats would be a useful addition.

#4 Posted by Alex on 16 Mar 2021 at 16:37 PM

Good density and interesting form for the flats which makes good use of the site beside the proposed footbridge over the Clyde. There is not much provision for communal gardens or green landscaping, the adjacent street and square are dominated by expanses of paving. Garden areas, raised planting beds and street trees, by the square and river side, could have created natural shelter from the wind, informal places to sit for local residents, taken up surface water and made a visual connection to the natural interest beside the river.

#5 Posted by Mary Hill on 17 Mar 2021 at 15:21 PM

Seems strange to create such a hard landscape in a time of climate emergency and when we are now all collectively striving for biodiversity net gain on projects. Seems like a design from 20 years ago when there were no real considerations beyond aesthetics. It would be interesting to understand the thinking behind this approach...

#6 Posted by Hamish Ashcroft on 17 Mar 2021 at 16:14 PM

Good density, nice design and nice having ground floor retail. Hope this is a car free development. Also agree with comments above, street trees and more vegetation is sorely needed in the design.

#7 Posted by David on 18 Mar 2021 at 11:41 AM

Whilst more trees would definitely be welcome, I think the public realm works proposed are a really fitting solution for an inner city site. Glasgow is already one of the greenest cities in Europe ecologically, with its many parks. I don't think large expanses of grass in such a central location would be an appropriate solution in this instance.

#8 Posted by RM Kartoffel on 22 Mar 2021 at 14:31 PM

I like it, reminds me of a bit next to the river in Copenhagen. With the new bridge and this development, govan could really be on the up.

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