Garscube Road

The mainstream housing to Garscube Road consists of 117 new build homes situated on two previously undeveloped brownfield sites in the Maryhill area of Glasgow. These were formally occupied by weaving and dying mills, located close to the Forth and Clyde Canal. Since the decline of the mills, the existing tenements and other industrial land in the area has suffered from neglect, and the identity of the area has become lost due to the poor definition of street corners, and the loss of the traditional tenement street pattern.

The development is split across two sites, with the smaller Hopehill Road site hosting the sheltered housing, and all other accommodation at the larger Maltbarns Street site, two blocks along Garscube Road. The massing has been arranged to optimise communal south facing external space, whilst creating strong street presence of appropriate scale to the busy Garscube Road. The large site is split into family housing to the south-west at Maltbarns Street, and flats to the north-east along Garscube Road and Hinshaw Street.

In redeveloping the site Collective Architecture has sought to maximise on the sites' assets by re-introducing a strong urban street edge, and by providing flats that offer residents views towards the Maryhill Canal and across towards Glasgow’s West End. The whole development across the two sites employs a similar aesthetic approach. The main facades to the public roads are broken up with a mix of different brick types, textures and colours. These reflect the rich palette of materials in the surrounding buildings.

At the prominent corner of Garscube Road and Hinshaw Street the building rises to 6 stories, stepping down to the terraced houses as it wraps around the south facing communal courtyard. Sheltered flats also turn a prominent corner, clearly defining the edge of a street. Communal areas have an innovative perforated deck over undercroft parking, mostly naturally day lit. Timber seats and planters soften south facing communal spaces. Fob controlled electronic gates provide security.

The family housing is arranged around a common play garden, on either side of Maltbarns Street, and relates directly in scale to the existing adjacent housing. A large variety of house and at types from one bedroom flats up to six bedroom family houses have been seamlessly incorporated to create a mixed and sustainable community.
The sheltered flats have circulation spaces facing north onto the main road, protecting the flats from noise, heat loss and unwanted access. Inner windows to the corridor mean that the single aspect south facing flats still benefit from light and views on two sides.

The project has been developed in consultation with the local steering group, which includes the local police liaison officer and Glasgow City Council Land Services. The homes all achieve Band ‘A’ energy efficiency and the Garscube Road housing, together with the Hopehill sheltered housing, represented the largest new build hot water solar panel installation in Scotland, at the time of their completion.