April 9 2021

A landscape extension to the Glasgow Science Centre at Pacific Quay is well underway with a move on-site to replace hard landscaping with moats, trees and planting.

As part of a £4m Connect programme to link communities the initiative will furnish the facility with an outdoor venue for exhibitions and outreach, centred on a Fibonacci Garden which reimagines the famous formula in pine cones and leaves.

A dual carriage cycle lane and bike park will also be created to provide better connectivity with national cycling routes.

Dr Gillian Lang, who is deputy director of science at Glasgow Science Centre said: “We’re creating safe, outdoor learning spaces with exciting hands-on exhibits and opportunities to connect with nature.

“The aim is to create a community and civic outdoor space that is loved, social and interactive; connecting the science centre to the community, to the environment and the city.”

Delivered in partnership with Austin-Smith:Lord and Sustrans the garden promenade will extend over a 1.6ha site.

Completion of the landscaped grounds is expected by July. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 9 Apr 2021 at 13:17 PM

Pretty low rent stuff -- the suburbanisation of an iconic Glasgow setting.

Filling in the moat -- how could they?

Also -- a £4mill spend?

How much will be white collar and how much will be blue collar?

Surely they could do better with that level of investment?

#2 Posted by Garden Specialist on 9 Apr 2021 at 14:32 PM

I count about 50 trees in that CGI, does it really cost £4m to plant 50 mature trees? That is £80k per tree.

In reality they are probably paying £5k per tree which will be a grand total of £250k, the other £3.75m will go on 'administrative costs' aka paying people enormous salaries to sit in a chain doing almost nothing.

#3 Posted by Hamish Ashcroft on 10 Apr 2021 at 22:30 PM

Do you know what would actually pull in visitors? Building over the sea of parking that surrounds the place, and building high density residential/commercial/new cultural attractions in its place. And adding a tram along the main road to the hospital airport etc :)

#4 Posted by Billy on 13 Apr 2021 at 03:54 AM

#3. Totally agree. Too much car park space. Build a multistorey car park with a futuristic design and use this valuable land for hospitality or residential to pull more people in. Lazy option... put a few trees in. Really? Glasgow is surrounded by countryside. If I want to visit a tree I don't have to go to a car park with a view of the dire Bbc building. These sort of large car parks are usually found on the edge of towns not close to the centre. What is wrong with Glasgow? Lack of imagination. Still Candleriggs vacant, India St SRC HQ Yet to be demolished, the East end of St Enoch Square still home to a poor excuse for a car park. The old Bhs building no longer getting pulled down but re purposed. It's an ugly building ...get it down.

#5 Posted by jaded on 13 Apr 2021 at 07:21 AM

Agree Hamish. The whole area is so barren and alienating. cram it full of flats and activity will follow.

I don't think the trees are a bad idea. They might provide a bit of screening from the wind. it can get pretty unpleasant down there at times.

#6 Posted by 7yrsatuni on 15 Apr 2021 at 12:12 PM

Charlie Dimmock could do this at a fraction of the cost with 4 times the brain power

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