Glasgow Architecture News 2020 Winter, Strathclyde Buildings, Architects, Design Scotland
Glasgow Building News in Early 2020
Scottish Architectural + Construction Updates – West of Scotland Property
Glasgow Architecture News 2020 – for April to December
More info on the Edinburgh Architecture news for 2020 page
2020
Glasgow Building News for 2020
27 Apr 2020
University of Glasgow welcomes new Executive Director of Estates
The University of Glasgow is delighted to welcome Ian Campbell as its new Executive Director of Estates.
Ian Campbell University of Glasgow Executive Director of Estates:
photo courtesy of University of Glasgow
Ian, who previously held the position of Group Property Director at Rolls Royce plc, joins the University as it delivers an ambitious campus development programme. He succeeds Ann Allen MBE who is stepping down after eight years at the University.
Ian said: “I am excited by the prospect of working with an outstanding group of colleagues and helping the University to achieve its goals as a world-changing institution, as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.”
A graduate of the University of Aberdeen, Ian has been Group Property Director of Rolls Royce plc since 2007. He has had a wide-ranging career in local government, the rail industry and the aerospace sector. He has particular expertise in change management and portfolio management of large estates.
27 Apr 2020
Glasgow Buildings Photos April 2020
photograph © Adrian Welch
More architecture photos taken today by Adrian Welch, along the River Kelvin:
Glasgow Buildings Photos
22 Apr 2020
Vienna House Hotel
image courtesy of Hawkins\Brown
Vienna House Hotel
Artisan Real estate has gained planning permission for a 250-bed, 124,000 sqft Hotel next to St Columba Gaelic church in St Vincent Street Glasgow. Working with Porter Planning and a design team led by Hawkins\Brown, Atelier 10 and Quattro engineers, Artisan has secured approval for the new 16 storey, four-star hotel designed for the Vienna House brand.
21 Apr 2020
Glasgow Buildings Photos 2020
Architectural photos taken today by Editor Adrian Welch, Finnieston, around the Gorbals area:
photo © Adrian Welch
20 Apr 2020
NHS Louisa Jordan Completes in Glasgow
Robertson Group was proud and humbled to see NHS employees applaud the teams behind NHS Louisa Jordan in Glasgow as they left site after completing the national facility to assist in the fight against Covid-19.
Robertson and the other contractors were only doing their jobs and Robertson wanted to thank all NHS employees, frontlineworkers and keyworkers for the work they are doing.
The team put together a Zoom clap for the NHS and for all of the site teams who worked tirelessly to ensure NHS Louisa Jordan is ready for service if required.
17 Apr 2020
Suspending the UK housing market
Suspending the housing market is unprecedented, but it is temporary. Be assured, it will start again
By Eric Curran
Property professionals who have been in the front line for a long period of time tend to become slightly battle-hardened and take the view that, whatever crisis comes around the corner, they have seen it all before.
Well, not this time.
Recessions and downturns have come and gone and, goodness knows, we all thought the 2008 banking crisis was about as bad as it could get, but I don’t think anyone could have foreseen a threat like Covid-19, which essentially has shut down the world.
People woke up on the morning of March 27 to headlines which proclaimed that No 10 was suspending the UK housing market, warning that people should not move home at this time. The Registers of Scotland, vital to housing transactions, also suspended business temporarily, then focussed collaboratively on an alternative and has since progressed to being able to provide a service.
Estate agents are closed, surveyors cannot do their primary work, solicitors are operating from home, viewings are out for the foreseeable future and even removal men have shut up shop and garaged their vans.
However, even as this cloud of gloom descends, it is worth remembering that this firm has been around since 1897 and the one constant over that century and a quarter has been that every property downturn is followed, sooner or later, by an upturn.
The key to remaining optimistic at this dark time is that the market at the moment is only suspended. It is a temporary situation. And we must keep in mind that the underlying fundamentals have not changed, or worsened. All the mechanics are still there.
It is a bit like sealing something in a vacuum for a brief period. When you unwrap the vacuum pack, it still there, as good as ever, in this case with all the nuances and drivers of the marketplace intact.
The Government is trying very hard to make sure that the economy is financially underpinned and people are still employed and getting paid. If the shape of that economy has not altered dramatically when we come out of this thing, there is no reason why the property market should not carry on.
Before this shutdown happened, the residential market was imbued with reasonable and realistic optimism, there was a shortage of supply of property, there was pent-up demand and good prices were being achieved.
I don’t see these basic issues changing. People are very resilient and, when this is over, they will want to get back to their lives quickly. With the measures that have been taken to secure jobs and help with bills, a house move could easily be back on the agenda.
I have to come back to that fact that this is a suspension. The housing market is not holed below the waterline as it was in 2008 and, whether we see a V-shaped or a U-shaped recession, I suspect the collective sigh of relief when all this ends will ensure there is no L-shaped recession as there was then.
The main driver in recovery will be the time of the year that restrictions are lifted. If we emerge in early summer, there will still be a lot of the year to go and the normal focus on holidays may not prove so much of a distraction.
For the reasons above, I am not anticipating any significant fall in house prices. The barriers we saw to a return to everyday life in 2008 are not there. The lack of supply has not changed from what it was three weeks ago and demand will remain every bit as strong, though it might be slightly dampened initially.
We have stopped the world to deal with this virus. When we have done so, it will be up to us all to make sure we can get it started again.
Eric Curran is managing partner of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, based in the firm’s Glasgow North office.
15 Apr 2020
Guthrie Aerial Photography News
Commissioned Aerial Photography
This Glasgow area firm are still taking bookings for flights, and will take to the skies as soon as sensible.
Photo Library
They have a huge library of existing stock images at your disposal right now!
Website
In their downtime they have created a new website – please check it out below:
www.guthrieaerialphotography.co.uk
12 Apr 2020
Happy Easter!
We bring you some photos taken from deserted streets in Glasgow this morning,
the whole feel of the cityscape has been transformed – visually and acoustically:
An empty George Square Glasgow, due to the Coronavirus pandemic:
photos © P Nicholas
An empty Glasgow street ; George Square war memorial:
The statue of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, still capped with a traffic cone:
St. Vincent Chambers, the ‘Hatrack Building’, Art Nouveau building design by architect James Salmon:
photos © Isabelle Lomholt
Empty Glasgow streets due to Coronavirus pandemic ; The Bank of Scotland Glasgow Chief Office entrance gates:
Finale – another empty street:
9 Apr 2020
Mark Baines, Glasgow School of Art
Mark Baines, who has been a seminal part of the School for 50 years, has passed away (not Covid-19 related).
Mark was one of the first cohort to study on the full time programme at the Mac, went on to work with Andy and Isi at Gillespie Kidd & Coia, with Ian O Robertson Architect and Ian Bridges Architect before returning to GSA to teach generations of architecture students, most recently as Stage Leader for the DipArch programme.
A tribute from his long-time colleague Johnny Rodger, Professor of Urban Literature at The Glasgow School of Art is featured on e-architect:
7 Apr 2020
Spectrum Properties Helps Scott Harrison School of Boxing
A well-known East End of Glasgow boxing gym which has not only produced champions but has helped keep local youngsters off the ropes is enjoying a new lease of life following support by one of Scotland’s largest property companies:
Scott Harrison School of Boxing News
7 Apr 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic Homeworking
By David Halliday, the managing director of Halliday Fraser Munro:
Homeworking During COVID-19 Pandemic
3 Apr 2020
Property market recovery?
The long and the short of it is that it’s all in the timing
Article by Alan Gordon, DM Hall
Up until two weeks ago, the property market in Scotland was roaring, firing on all cylinders and accelerating away. The post-Brexit bounce was in full swing and people who had been sitting on their hands for years were active as puppies.
Now, thanks to Coronavirus, the door has slammed shut, first on commercial business – particularly in leisure, hospitality and retail – and now on the residential market with the government’s injunction last week (March 27) that people should not even think about moving house at this time.
The response to the Covid-19 outbreak has altered all our lives in ways that even the most fervid imagination would not have dared to predict and, in these early stages of the fightback, there is a palpable sense of unreality.
But is real, only too real, and the measures that we collectively put in place now will determine what the economy will look like when, as we will, we eventually come out of the other side.
What is keeping many people going is the certainty that the disruption to normal business, unprecedented though it may be, will be temporary – though how temporary remains itself uncertain.
The recovery, I believe, will hinge around timing. That will be so important. If people are still able to go about their business within the current controls of social distancing and isolation, then a market can function.
The market needs people to be able to view properties safely, it needs surveyors to be able to supply reliable valuations to lenders and it needs lenders to have confidence in these valuations.
Confidence is vital in this period of major distortion, since lenders are instinctively cautious and risk averse, and valuation integrity alone won’t allow the flow of properties into the market to continue.
That is most likely to happen, and we are most likely to climb back to pre-virus levels, if the period of nil activity is short. The longer it goes on, the less likelihood there is of that happening.
The stop/pause period we have just entered is designed to run for three weeks, in the manner of a temporary suspension of a financial market to stifle disorderly activity. It is, however, looking increasingly likely that the initial three weeks of lockdown will be extended. We will simply have to live with this.
If, after a period of weeks thereafter, we can go back to working very carefully in controlled conditions; if the Registers can register titles; if valuers can provide guidance; if lenders can supply funds; and if lawyers can complete transactions, then people will once again have the opportunity to trade.
In commercial property, there is little doubt that people’s occupational requirements will be of a different size and shape, and there may be a flurry of compelled sales as owners scramble to convert properties into cash.
The momentum we saw in the first quarter of 2020 has every chance of continuing if we can get back to business without a protracted period of delay. If we cannot, there’s a real risk that the market may see a rise in compelled sales, and a surge in supply.
We have to recognise that the Government has implemented extraordinary financial support measures but, for some businesses, these inevitably involve taking on more debt. If borrowing is necessary to pay overheads, the model is basically unviable for any length of time.
The leisure sector certainly has had as much help as it is possible to give but, even with this stimulus, the sector is unlikely to come back in the same shape and size as before the wrecking ball hit.
It already underwent a major shakeout post-credit crunch and, although the market was going well at the beginning of the year, there probably was a bit of over-capacity in some areas so a further thinning may be on the cards.
To sum up, if the pause button is pressed for a relatively short period of time, there is every possibility the market – both residential and commercial – will start up again close to where it left off and continue through to the end of the year.
It’s all in the timing.
Alan Gordon is Senior Partner in the Glasgow North office of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors.
31 Mar 2020
Property industry leader responds to Scottish coronavirus legislation
31st of March 2020 – Today, the Scottish Government introduced the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The emergency legislation supports and complements the Coronavirus Act 2020, passed by the UK Parliament last week.
Commenting on the Scottish Bill, Scottish Property Federation (SPF) Chair Robin Blacklock, said:
“We welcome this extraordinary Bill, which supports the public health emergency and recognises the economic challenges we are facing due to COVID-19.
“The SPF is urging its members to do as much as possible to support society in general during this unprecedented crisis.
“We are encouraging all members to put the welfare of the nation at the forefront of all decisions, and we are recommending landlords take a pragmatic approach where possible.
“We believe that setting a level playing field for deferring commercial rental payments and any irritancy proceedings is sensible in the current circumstances.
“Leading members have already been supporting tenants to manage rental obligations as the economy adapts to the restrictions on population movements, and as residents and businesses struggle with financial obligations through no fault of their own.
“However, we must also recognise that landlords are businesses and employers that depend on cash-flow to stay in operation and maintain jobs.
“Many commercial property owners in Scotland will also have significant responsibilities to their investors including pension funds.
“Landlords also need to be supported and should not be penalised with empty property rates charges for vacant premises that they cannot re-let during this crisis.”
27 Mar 2020
Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum News
Construction bodies issue new guidance to help clarify working practices during Coronavirus crisis
The newly-established Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum has today (March 27) taken immediate action to provide clarity for the sector in Scotland following advice from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday (March 25) that all building sites with the exception of any hospital work should close.
The group, made up of respected construction industry bodies including the professions, and which between them represent the majority of most professional bodies working in the industry in Scotland, has acted swiftly in an attempt to end the uncertainty around which works can be undertaken.
Spurred by concern about conflicting messages from the UK Government about what construction work could be undertaken, the CICV has issued guidance to companies and employees as well as drafting an explanatory letter which can be issued to customers.
The prompt and reassuring action follows a strong appeal to the Scottish Government by the CICV immediately after its inauguration to help with cashflow and protect construction jobs against the “crippling” background of Coronavirus.
The Forum is recommending to its members, which include many micro and small businesses, that they:
• Follow the First Minister’s advice about closing non-essential building sites
• Only carry out required repair and maintenance or any emergency work until further notice
• Suspend other work such as building extensions, installing kitchens and bathroom suites or rewiring properties etc in the meantime.
The CICV, which was set up last week, now has 16 members, including the electrical contractors’ trade association SELECT, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbers’ Federation (SNIPEF), the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA – Scotland), the Lift and Escalator Industry Association, the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) Scotland, the Scottish Building Federation (SBF), the Federation of Master Builders, the Scaffolding Association, the Stone Federation, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, the Electrical Distributors’ Association, the Builders Merchants Federation, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Scottish Contractors Group and the British Constructional Steelwork Association.
23 Mar 2020
Construction Action for Coronavirus Crisis
Scottish construction bodies call for urgent action to help firms during coronavirus crisis
A group of respected construction industry bodies, who between them represent the majority of contractor business in Scotland, has suggested a number of simple actions which the Scottish Government could introduce immediately to help with cashflow and protect jobs against the “crippling” background of coronavirus.
SELECT, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbers’ Federation (SNIPEF), the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA Scotland) and the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) are among the 10 organisations who have sent a joint letter to Fiona Hyslop, Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, urging her to support the Scottish construction sector.
The group, which also includes the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA), the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), the Scaffolding Association, the Stone Federation and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), said that without immediate action, the industry would face “business closures and loss of jobs and skills”.
In its hard-hitting letter, the group – which calls itself the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum – says: “Most of Scotland’s economy is made up of micro and small businesses, many of whom are already facing the closure of construction sites and a reduction in domestic work. This will undoubtedly lead to business closures, loss of jobs and skills at a time that Scotland can least afford and would seriously dent Scotland’s future economic growth.
“However, what we would do need Scottish Government to do, in this unprecedented time, is to use its influence with clients to ask that payments are accelerated as quickly as possible to ensure that the flow of cash will continue.
“It is also vital that clients ensure that payment must be cascaded down the supply chain to ensure that everyone who is legitimately due cash is paid more quickly. We would also request that all public sector clients immediately release any retentions due to boost cash flow in the sector.”
The CICV Forum is also asking the government to allow public sector clients to:
• Suspend the use of open tenders
• Use the Quick Quote method of tendering where possible
• Ask public sector clients to provide clarity on existing contracts and on the contractual position regarding delays
• Keep the momentum going to ensure the industry survives.
Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, the electrical contractors’ trade association, said: “We are at the beginning of what is likely to be a prolonged and very difficult time for a sector which has already been struggling during recent years.
“If the Scottish construction industry is to survive this crisis, it is absolutely vital that the Scottish Government and public sector clients continue to procure a steady pipeline of work.
“Given the unprecedented challenges ahead, we would urge the Scottish Government to relax current procurement rules and procedures, in the short term, to help industry and public sector clients overcome the inevitable staffing issues all employers will face over the coming months.
“We’re also requesting that the government adopt a light touch, because the private sector may not have the staff to compile large specifications and the public sector won’t have the staff to mark it.”
Vaughan Hart, Managing Director of the SBF, added: “We are already seeing a significant impact on the way the industry is having to alter its mode of operations and we are sure there will be many more issues to be dealt with as things develop.
“Cashflow has always been a major factor for companies operating within the construction sector and this is even more important now, as work streams are restricted and the potential impact on future workload is unknown.
“Any measure which improves cash flow and easies the route to future work opportunities has to be looked at seriously in these times, otherwise we may not have the industry we will need to grow the economy, once the worst of the impact of the coronavirus is over.”
Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of SNIPEF, said: “These are desperate times for everyone. If we go into lockdown, firms will simply not be able to afford to keep staff on and with redundancies comes a loss of a skilled workforce which is already in short supply.
“The new CICV Forum will now share views weekly and feed into the Scottish Government. It is vital therefore that members keep us abreast of the issues they are facing as they develop.”
The move comes after Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, this week announced a package of measures to help Scotland’s communities cope with the “worldwide public health emergency”.
This included an additional £350million for local hardship funds, £45million for the Scottish Welfare Fund and a £20million Third Sector Resilience Fund to help organisations cope with cashflow.
Ms Campbell also urged the UK Government to reconsider its approach to welfare and increase levels of Universal Credit, statutory sick pay and reverse its cap on children, saying these were “not normal times”.
Mr Wilson said: “We have now set up an online advisory group where CICV Forum members will share intelligence, advice and information across the whole sector. We will also use it to keep the government informed.
“These are not normal times, which is why it is vital that the construction industry is helped with these vital issues, just as other areas are being assisted.
“Now is the right time for Scottish Government to show leadership and take bold and decisive actions as quickly as possible to keep the industry afloat.”
20 Mar 2020
Irish Sea Tunnel Concept News
Alan Dunlop, Scotland – Celtic Crossing as Sea Tunnel between Scotland & Northern Ireland.
It is a sea tunnel not a bridge, stretching across the Irish Sea. It sits 12 metres below the wave line and is supported by and connected to the pontoons.
drawing courtesy of architect
19 Mar 2020
#DesignPopUp Glasgow News
Update:
#DesignPopUp Glasgow 2020
New dates announced
In light of the global impact caused by COVID-19 and following careful consideration, #DesignPopUp Glasgow will be postponed until 12 – 14 August 2020.
More info on our events page.
10 Mar 2020
2020 Scottish Design Awards Judges
The judging panels for the 2020 Scottish Design Awards have been confirmed.
6 Mar 2020
Entries invited for the 23rd Scottish Design Awards
The Scottish Design Awards has resumed its search for the finest examples of architecture and design ahead of the 23rd gathering of the country’s creative community.
Organised by Urban Realm, in partnership with The Drum, the awards showcase boundary shaping work to an audience of design professionals to reward those who’ve gone above and beyond in delivering their briefs.
Urban Realm editor John Glenday said: “In a rapidly changing environment the world can seem to play out in fast-forward all around us, ensuring that the dizzying task of making sense of these changes and documenting progress becomes both harder and more important as each year passes.
“The Scottish Design Awards stand as a conduit for this evolution by drawing upon a unique and distinct medley of talent from Urban Realm and The Drum to make sense of the latest thinking, and developments by condensing one year of work under one roof, for one night, in a singular celebration of the best projects drawn from around the country.”
Open to all architects, engineers, graphic, interior and digital designers who have delivered class-leading work the awards serve as a unifying force and a champion of best practice, sustainability and innovation.
All entries must be received no later than 24 April via the Scottish Design Awards website.
5 Mar 2020
Property leader calls on industry to embrace future challenges
Speaking yesterday at the Scottish Property Federation (SPF) conference in Edinburgh, SPF Chair Robin Blacklock challenged the property industry to deliver financial, social and environmental sustainability for Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP, also addressed the conference, echoing calls for a break in ‘business as usual’ to find innovative solutions to service Scotland’s communities.
The conference looked to other sectors as examples of how to successfully incorporate sustainable business practices with addresses from ScottishPower CEO Keith Anderson and CEO Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc John Reid.
SPF Chair Robin Blacklock said:
“The property industry in Scotland has a great opportunity to shape the future direction of the country by embedding sustainability in its business practices.
“If we are to tackle the challenge of inclusive economic growth as we move towards a carbon neutral economy, we must do things differently.
“We can learn from other industries that have taken those bold steps towards carbon reduction, and from those who’ve set social inclusion at the heart of their businesses.
“By imbedding social and environmental responsibility into our day-to-day business considerations we have a fantastic opportunity to influence our future for the better.
“We must strive to inform political and community leaders about how long-term, sustainable investment is key to meeting their objectives.
“With a collaborative approach, we can start to solve this critical challenge.”
4 Mar 2020
£113 million Research Hub tops out at UofG
Construction reaches major milestone
image courtesy of architects
The construction of a £113 million research facility at the University of Glasgow has reached a key milestone, with the building topping out.
University of Glasgow New Research Hub building
3 Mar 2020
Political Leadership, Resourcing And Infrastructure Key To Achieving Vision Of Housing To 2040
Political leadership, adequate resourcing and delivery of supporting infrastructure are all essential if Scotland is to have the volume and range of quality homes it requires to meet the diverse needs of its population in 20 years’ time.
HFS Director of Policy Fionna Kell said:
“The provision of new homes is crucial to making Scotland a better place in which to live, work and invest but doing this effectively requires bold, long-term visioning in the context of the climate emergency.
“With an accumulated backlog of 85,000 homes over the last decade or so alone, there must be an overt focus on how to increase and maintain steady investment in the supply of new homes of all tenures in places people want to live.
“This would have massive social and economic benefits in terms of improved health and educational outcomes, skills, training, employment and productivity.
“The first step to realising this potential is to set a national delivery target encompassing all tenures. Such a move would clearly demonstrate intent and help focus the behaviours and funding priorities of all stakeholders.
“Our members build across both public and private sectors and stand ready to play their full part.”
2 Mar 2020
Urban Union submits plans for Gorbals Development
images courtesy of Urban Union
Plans have been submitted for the third phase of an award-winning development in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. Regeneration specialists Urban Union – part of the Robertson Group – are seeking planning permission from Glasgow City Council to deliver the homes and commercial space at Laurieston Living:
Laurieston Living Glasgow, New Gorbals Housing
29 Feb 2020
Official Opening and First Exhibition to Celebrate Perth’s New Creative Hub
Perth Creative Exchange, a £4.5 million creative hub which will help boost the local Perthshire arts economy, was officially opened at a launch ceremony on Wednesday February 26, by the Provost of Perth and Kinross, Dennis Melloy.
25 Feb 2020
The Glasgow School of Art appoints Penny Macbeth as new Director
photograph courtesy of GSA
The Glasgow School of Art has appointed Penny Macbeth, currently Dean of Manchester School of Art and Deputy Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor for Arts and Humanities focusing on external engagement and partnerships, as its new Director following an extensive international search it was confirmed today, 25 February 2020. The new Director will start in May 2020.
New Glasgow School of Art Director: Penny Macbeth
25 Feb 2020
#DesignPopUp Glasgow Event
The 7th #DesignPopUp Glasgow edition is due to take place on 10th to 12th June: more info on our events page.
20 Feb 2020
Work Starts On New Affordable Housing Development In Glasgow’s Southside
City officials attend ceremonial sod cutting to celebrate the start of works on new affordable housing development in Pollokshaws.
Work is officially underway to bring hundreds of new affordable homes to a key regeneration site in the heart of Glasgow’s southside:
Shawbridge Street Housing, Pollokshaws
8 Feb 2020
Cameron House Loch Lomond Spa Hotel Resort
image courtesy of Cameron House
Cameron House Loch Lomond Spa Hotel Resort
This luxury Scottish five-star resort has unveiled the first glimpse of the interior of its major extension, which will include a new ballroom and 68 bedrooms, following the news of planning approval.
8 Feb 2020
Trongate Development for Caledon Property Group
Mosaic Architecture + Design has secured planning permission for a landmark £25M mixed use development in Trongate, Glasgow city centre incorporating new retail spaces, a replacement public house opportunity and a high-quality hotel development, much in demand in the Merchant City, for developer Caledon Property Group.
image courtesy of Caledon Property Group
The ambitious project will provide a luxury hotel with 157 bedrooms, a bar/restaurant and roof terrace affording excellent views over the city. The 12-storey building will provide more than 100 full-time jobs and represents a total investment of over £25M by the developer.
The site will see the demolition of the former bank premises and retail outlets on the corner of Trongate and Hutcheson Street, together with the Oriental Bar.
Stephen Mallon, Director of Mosaic, said: “We look forward to leading the delivery team to construct the property through the next phase of this landmark development for the city on a very important site adjacent to the Grade A listed former bank building on the corner of Trongate and Glassford Street, which houses residential apartments and a Café Nero, that we successfully refurbished two years ago for the same client.
“We are confident that this development will be a positive addition to the skyline of Glasgow, fill an important part of Trongate and help revitalise this historically important area of the Merchant City, which will undergo significant change in the years to come.”
Robbie Wotherspoon, Director of Caledon Property group, added: “In addition to its attractive mixed retail element, this significant development brings a much-needed hotel into the heart of the historic Merchant City and is set to be a popular and valuable addition to the city’s thriving retail and hospitality sector offerings.”
6 Feb 2020
Ka Pao
Mosaic Architecture + Design has given Ka Pao, the new restaurant housed in the basement of the recently converted Botanic Gardens Garage on Vinicombe Street in Glasgow’s West End, a distinctly South East Asian look and feel to complement its menu.
Run by the company behind the popular Kelvingrove restaurant Ox and Finch, Ka Pao, which accommodates 120 covers with a separate bar area, has been designed by Stuart Black, Head of Interior Design at Mosaic, who was also responsible for the interiors of Ox and Finch.
Ka Pao restaurant on Vinicombe Street in Glasgow:
photo courtesy of Mosaic Architecture + Design
Commenting on the restaurant’s design, Black said: “Following the success in designing sister restaurant Ox & Finch, we were appointed by Scoop Restaurants to provide architecture and interior design services for the latest addition to its portfolio, Ka Pao, a 200 capacity bar Restaurant with a £1m project cost located within the basement unit of the Grade A listed Botanic Garden Garage development.
“Thanks to existing and reclaimed white ceramic brick walls and a full elevation of crittal style glazing running down the length of the restaurant, the space is unusually bright and airy for a basement unit.
image courtesy of Mosaic Architecture + Design
“An industrial mix of white-washed concrete soffits, galvanized steel services, poured cement floors softened with live planting, reclaimed furniture, decorative and intelligent lighting contrast with bold pops of colour, earthy hand fired and glazed tiles, creating a vibrant colourful and richly illuminated interior that has both a juxtapose and always-been there relationship with the building.”
Mosaic Director Stephen Mallon added: “The former Arnold Clark Garage was and is a beautiful listed building and the insertion of Ka Pao has blended effortlessly well with the industrial aesthetic of the of the original interior.
“It was, once again, a pleasure working with Jonathan and his team and we look forward to continuing to do so on further exciting developments planned for this year.”
Commenting on the contribution made by Mosaic, Jonathan MacDonald, owner and chef, said: “There were various technical challenges that came with fitting out a new restaurant in the basement of the Botanic Gardens Garage. As the client, we had a clear vision of the vibe that we wanted to create in the space and how we wanted the restaurant to function operationally. Mosaic took on our brief and we’re delighted with how Ka Pao has turned out!
“Stuart, Andrew and the team at Mosaic have been a pleasure to work with on Ka Pao. They offer a great mix of technical and project management expertise, combined with creativity and flair for designing fantastic looking and functional interiors. It’s great to work with a design team that are as truly passionate about a new restaurant project as we are, and who work with such dedication and attention to detail.”
The name Ka Pao derives from the Thai word for Holy Basil.
31 Jan 2020
Interserve named preferred bidder to build £15m Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Scotland
image courtesy of Interserve Construction Limited
The development near Glasgow Airport will be led by CPI in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, UKRI, Scottish Enterprise, and founding industry partners, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline:
Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre
25 Jan 2020
New Gorbals Housing Association
photo : Keith Hunter
The new home of the New Gorbals Housing Association is a bespoke office and civic piazza forming the centrepiece of the Crown Street redevelopment in Glasgow, by Page\Park Architects:
New Gorbals Housing Association
23 Jan 2020
Scotland’s Non-Domestic Rates Bill risks significant damage to investment into student accommodation sector
23rd of January 2020 – Student accommodation, like any domestic premises, is exempt from business rates. However, this principle is currently at risk in Scotland due to an amendment to the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill.
More info on the Edinburgh building news for 2020 page
22 Jan 2020
First images revealed of new Paisley High Street Learning and Cultural Hub
The first images showing how a vacant former retail unit at the heart of Paisley’s High Street will be turned into a 21st-century community facility housing library services are today revealed.
image courtesy of architects
Construction will start soon on the £7m Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub – a new modern community and educational facility which will bring new footfall to the town centre:
Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub Building News
20 Jan 2020
New Postgraduate Teaching Hub and Business School Building
The University of Glasgow has approved plans for a major new development which will create a unique hub for its Postgraduate Taught (PGT) student community and house the Adam Smith Business School.
image : HASSELL / Imigo
University of Glasgow Postgraduate Teaching Hub and Business School building
Home Builders Welcome New Infrastructure Strategy
20th of January 2020 – With the cost and delays associated with delivering necessary supporting infrastructure among the biggest blockers to residential development, trade body Homes for Scotland today welcomed the 30-year blueprint published by the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland.
Looking at infrastructure in the round and recognising housing as an integral component, the report presented to the Scottish Government sets out 23 specific recommendations including the requirement for:
a place based assessment on long term housing supply and demand by 2021
an infrastructure-first approach to support the implementation of National Planning Framework 4
Chief Executive Nicola Barclay said:
“We were pleased to see that the Infrastructure Commission has acknowledged housing, which is crucial to Scotland’s long-term success and wellbeing, as an integral component of the country’s essential infrastructure.
“New housing developments do not stand alone and are themselves dependent on having the necessary supportive infrastructure in place (such as schools, GP surgeries, transport options, water, gas, electricity and broadband). As well as being required for the new residents, such upfront provision also helps to alleviate concerns from existing residents.
“However, costs are prohibitive for both developers and their public sector partners. If Scotland is to fully meet the housing needs and aspirations of its people, we must find the funding and delivery solutions for both on-site and off-site infrastructure requirements otherwise development, particularly by SMEs and in rural areas, risks being stymied even further.
“As we travel towards a net zero carbon economy and look to deliver the places of the future, this requires collaboration across public and private sectors. Homes for Scotland and its member companies stand ready to play their full part in developing the next stage of this important work in June 2020, when the Commissioners will be looking to shape the options for delivery of their recommendations.”
17 Jan 2020
Paisley Museum Funding News
The National Lottery Heritage Fund announced £3.8million of support for the project:
Paisley Museum renewal funding news.
7 Jan 2020
Halliday Fraser Munro new appointment
A rise in masterplanning project wins across Scotland has seen award-winning architectural design and planning practice Halliday Fraser Munro bring high-level expertise to its team, adding landscape architectural services to its portfolio:
More info on the Edinburgh Architecture news for 2020 page
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