Central Govan Masterplan

[viceroy]

'A striking contemporary feel'? No doubt about that. But 'sympathetic to the surrounding historic buildings' ? I hardly think so. Also, I'm sure the actual site [on the corner of Orkney St. and Govan Road] is a lot smaller than those pictures make it out to be.

[gordon]

Jeezo, someone's let the work experience kid loose with those images!

We're designing a big chunk of stuff at Harhill St for Elder Park HA - not quite as controversial, shall we say, as the Do images. Im never entirely convinced with infill projects like theirs that dont seem to take much cognisance of the rhythm of the neighbouring tenements - like someone else posted, it just looks like another crass developer housing scheme that doesnt really offer anything.

Elder and Cannon's work up in Garnethill, whilst in a different context and with a totally different function, is to my mind a fine example of how to merge contemporary design with a historic context successfully.

[Josef]

I agree about the Elder & Cannon buildings. I have been greatly surprised to find myself liking all the St Aloysius-related extensions in Garnethill. I don't think the photos below do them full justice, you have to actually see them in their real-life context.

[gordon]

The second building is the better example, although better than them both is the Clavius building.

[Socceroo]

I think Govan could do with a bit of Modern Architecture to liven it up and tie it into all the stuff that is ongoing at the old Garden Festival Site at the Princes Docks and the Development planned for the Graving Docks.

I would rather see something cutting edge in the “town” centre of Govan instead of some of the buff brick apologies of buildings that have appeared in recent years.

Other than the centre of Govan and along Govan Road there is not many buildings still standing which need to be used as a reference point to keep things in context. There is a real opportunity to create something special on the many brownfield Sites in the District.

I really do hope that in the centre of Govan out to its fringes any of the new buildings are kept at the 3 - 4 storey height to maintain the mass / scale of the "town" centre as it previously was before most of it's tenements were wiped off the face of the earth.

Some of the new build Social Housing currently being built on the edges of Govan is as good as you will get in terms of quality, value for money and relatively low maintenance. Sense has prevailed a bit on these Sites also in that there is a good mix of low rise 2 storey dwellings and feature Apartment Blocks going up to 4 Storeys to keep in context / reference to higher existing neighbours.

All said and done it is good to see long overdue investment being made in an area which was largely cleared thirty years ago and then literally left untouched.

[Mori]

Evening Times

A £13.5MILLION health and social care hub in Glasgow has been given the go-ahead.
The environmentally-friendly centre in Drumoyne claims to be the city's first carbon neutral building and is set to provide a range of vital services for people.
As well as facilities for community nursing, physiotherapy and podiatry, the two-storey, 5700sqm one-stop-shop will house drug and alcohol projects and be a base for elderly and children's services.
The steel-clad structure, to be built low into the ground to restrict noise pollution from the nearby M8 motorway, will also provide space for voluntary and community groups.
It will be funded by Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow who have pledged local people will be employed by contractors.
Councillors granted full planning permission earlier this week with work due to start at the Craigton Road site in spring.
Award-winning architect Alan Dunlop, who designed the building, is confident it will be both practical and iconic.
His last public project was the groundbreaking Hazelwood School for children with special needs in Bellahouston, which is currently being praised for its innovative design at an international exhibition in London.
He said: "This centre will set new standards in health care for Glasgow and we are delighted to be involved.
"All too often health and social care buildings are bleak places to visit. We wanted to make sure this centre was the opposite - light, airy and dynamic.
"It was a difficult site to work with but we've spent time ensuring it will fit perfectly into the local environment."
Six specially-fitted aerofoil roof panels will bathe the building in year-round natural light, while internal courtyards will improve the indoor environment.
Meanwhile, rainwater collected around the building will be used to help run the sanitation system.
The entire structure will be covered in specialist Cor-Ten steel cladding in a bid to reflect Govan's shipbuilding history.
Councillor Stephen Curran, chairman of the Glasgow South West Community Health and Care Partnership, said: "Securing approval for these ambitious plans represents a significant step forward for the South West Community Health and Care Partnership.
"Not only will we soon have a fantastic, environmentally sensitive piece of modern architecture in the south west of the city, but we will also have a superb facility in which to provide the health and social care required by people of this community."



Internal renders of the proposed new Social Sevices building @ Craigton Rd Govan from GM+AD Architects.

[escotregen]

Socceroo I think what your comments are very perceptive when you post about the need for some more contemporary developments that will ‘tie in’ Govan proper with what has been happening down at the waterfront. I’m hoping that the current master-planning process will, over time, bring about a more coherent and sustainable neighbourhood in terms of physical development.

I spend a lot of time in Govan for some parts of my work – some of it is spent walking around the area. Even the parts near the Orkney Street project that are benefiting from the new affordable housing projects, are still incoherent, inhospitable and at times unfriendly streetscapes.

Some, but not all, of the local housing associations’ developments do display good quality design and management. However, I am seriously worried that the current proposals on funding for new affordable housing developments will force housing associations into large-scale housing production in the interests of economics with all the attendant dangers to quality and sustainability. I understand that the quality and ‘local scale’ of housing association developments in England have already suffered in this way. All of the local associations in and around Govan, Linthouse and the hinterland will feel the need to ask themselves serious questions about how they can together meet the new challenges for sustainability and economics of scale.

I often think that the Govan streetscape of the 1950s to the 1980s represent the very worst of Old Labour municipalism – large scale cheap developments without any master-planning and, latterly, chaotic piecemeal developments that seemed to have been all about local ‘cooncilors’ populist wee turf wars with each other. The private sector and industry was treated as though it was the enemy to be ignored and/or exploited and/or removed whenever possible. Then just to top it all off the whole lot was subsequently badly maintained and badly managed. Thankfully, things have already wholly changed on most of those fronts with partnership being the accepted mode of operation.

I also think that there are very promising signs around the whole way that the current Govan master-planning process was designed to include meaningful consultation and community engagement from the outset. It was unfortunate that decades of disillusionment under the earlier municipal regimes meant that an understandably apathetic community was loathe to take fuller advantage of the engagement opportunities – but that will improve over time if real results accrue from the engagement process.

[Mori]

All of Govan will reap superhospital benefits


THE new Southern General Hospital looks certain to be a massive shot in the arm for the regeneration of Govan.

Health chiefs believe the huge £800million building project will transform the area in the same way the 2014 Commonwealth games will revitalise the East End.

Govan has suffered greatly from the decline of Clyde shipbuilding since the 1970s although in recent years a number of major regeneration schemes have helped breathe new life into the area.

But the expansion of the Southern General - which will see the workforce more than doubling - could be the most important of all.

[Mori]

For anyone interested and relevant to, there is a public meeting being held tomorrow (Tuesday the 29th of January) at 6pm
at Elderpark Library within Elder Park. The meeting is to elect members of the community interested in being members of Friends of Elderpark
and help in its regeneration.

Also at the end of the meeting there is a chance to hear a short presentation on the proposals for the regeneration of Elderpark by FMR research
who are carrying out a community consultation on behalf of the LUV Project and Linthouse Housing Association.

LUC



Elder Park, Glasgow

LUC in consultation with the Govan community has developed a £5million conservation and regeneration plan for one of Glasgow’s foremost Victorian parks designed by John Honeyman for the Elder Family as a bequest for the people of Govan

[crazygray23]

when i was at high school i saw a booklet from govan initiative that detailed plans for elder park and part of govan cross , in elder park from what i remember was the pond being centralised in the park with some big sculpture in the middle

and govan cross was to be pedrestrianised , please tell me i wasnt dreaming :)

[ramor69]

Spotted this , had a quick search and I don't think anyones posted it up yet -

http://www.bield.co.uk/news/article_91.html

[Dugald]

Spotted this , had a quick search and I don't think anyones posted it up yet

http://www.bield.co.uk/news/article_91.html

I read the article you posted Ramora, and found it interesting and very encouraging. It will certainly be put to good use; i know know a couple of people in Govan for whom this would just about fill their bill. i know the location on the old post office site they are referring to... I imagine this would make a very good location for setting up house. There use to be a Govan Boy Scout troop met in the old hall beside the post office, but i guess they'll be long gone. Good news!

[ramor69]

I can't remember a Scout Hall there Dugald, so it must have dissapeared
a long time ago.

[onyirtodd]

Spotted this , had a quick search and I don't think anyones posted it up yet

http://www.bield.co.uk/news/article_91.html

I read the article you posted Ramora, and found it interesting and very encouraging. It will certainly be put to good use; i know know a couple of people in Govan for whom this would just about fill their bill. .............. !

Quick word of praise for the Bield Housing Association.

My late mother spent the best year of her last 10 or so in a Bield Sheltered Housing complex near where I stay. Had it not been for a couple of broken hips in quick succession she'd probably still be there. She loved the place.

I can't praise them highly enough.

[dougie79]

Meant to mention this earlier, but when out and about this morning I noticed this old school building in govan, dont know what the place is called sorry. I hope Ive posted this in the right thread sorry if I havent, still govan related as I think its due to be renovated in a few months, well according to the workmen on the building opposite. Anyhoo I took a little nosey about and noticed a small brick building with no door on it, well you have to investigate, at first I just thought it was full of rubbish then I noticed a small computer base unit, upon further inspection I realised that it was an old Acorn school computer. Brought back memories from school in the early 90's when I did my higher computer science on these exac same machines. Sadly PC's have took over almost all schools now