Some cities are dominated by stone or brick, rather than modern buildings with a lot of structural glass and internal glass fittings. However, a new development in Glasgow involving structural glass may be about to help change at least part of the city’s character.
Many a city has been transformed by the arrival of many new buildings. In the UK, there were very few skyscrapers until the 21st century, since when London has risen ever higher and Manchester has been totally transformed from the red brick ‘Cottonopolis’ of old.
Glasgow and Edinburgh have changed rather less. These cities do not have an array of gleaming steel and glass skyscrapers. Instead, historic buildings abound, with blonde and red sandstone still the dominant building materials.
How Will Skyscrapers Change The Glasgow Skyline?
Notably, the tallest buildings in Glasgow are lower than in most major cities:
- The only structure over 300 ft tall is the Glasgow Tower, a 417 ft structure that acts as an observation tower, not a residential or office block.
- The tallest habitable building is 260 ft high.
- This means that much smaller cities such as Newcastle, Brighton & Hove, Swansea and Woking all have at least one habitable building taller than anything in Glasgow at present.
- However, the city council has set out a new Tall Buildings Design Guide for a transformed skyline featuring several skyscrapers.
One area identified in the guide as a good location for a cluster of tall new buildings is Charing Cross on the north-western edge of the city centre. Already, the 36-storey Portcullis House, destined to be the new headquarters of Scottish Power, is under construction.
It is also in Charing Cross that developer CXG Glasgow has just gained planning permission for a new 25-storey, 620-bed student accommodation tower, which will be one of several new towers in the vicinity. Two 1960s office blocks will be demolished to make way for it.
What Role Will Glass Play In Transforming Charing Cross?
The character of the building and others like it may be hinted at by the identity of the architects responsible for the design, Michael Laird Architects (MLA). This firm has designed several buildings for the vicinity, so more should follow.
MLA’s aim for the Charing Cross Gateway has been to correct what it calls the “incohesive architectural and urban legacy” of an area characterised in the postwar years by modernist design and the arrival of the M8 motorway, which cuts through the area.
The portfolio of building designs by the firm shows glass staircases, balustrades and large panes of glass in abundance across various projects, with the modern fashion for natural light, high ceilings and a sense of openness to the fore.
Such a building would mark a significant departure in design from many of the most prominent buildings in Glasgow, from its unattractive postwar residential tower blocks to the more attractive sandstone tenements and the Gothic style of the People’s Palace.
As with most large cities with varied architecture, there will be much debate about the architectural merits of different designs, but the main aim in Charing Cross is to create attractive spaces on the inside as well as a more connected environment outside.
The latter may be a priority in an area blighted by the intrusion of the M8. But the interiors may be just as important for underappreciated reasons.
Why Is Good Design Vital In Making High-Rise Living Attractive?
In its Tall Buildings Design Guide, the city council highlighted the growth of high-density city living in UK city centres and the need for Glasgow to follow the lead of others. That may lead to taller buildings to make the most of limited land, but not at the expense of liveability.
By using a lot of internal glass, even student apartments can look a cut above the grim tower blocks (like the former Red Row) for which the less attractive parts of the city are notorious. The internal design features can make all the difference in high-rise living.
Of course, in the case of a city like Glasgow, some of the worst estates are in isolated, edge-of-town areas, in stark contrast with city centre developments, a situation that will also be true in many other cities.
However, it is also the case that some of the worst high-rise developments are in or near city centres, yet are still a far cry from the quality and even luxury of better modern developments. The Charing Cross development is intended to be very different.
Construction of the student tower will start in 2027 and be finished in 2030, with the following years seeing the rest of the project area being transformed by new offices and homes, bringing a transformation of style and quality to an area much in need of it.
