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Location: Queen Elizabeth Square, Gorbals, Glasgow, Gorbals, Glasgow G5 0RU
Built: 2003
Designer: Crown Street Regeneration Project (developers) with various housebuilders / Hypostyle with CZWG (architect)
Type: city centre
Density: 98 homes per hectare
Parking ratio: 115%
High-quality public realm, new housing and commercial premises are reinventing Glasgow's historical sink estates as home to a range of incomes. Security issues are addressed with all parking on street, including in wide boulevards, with extensive surveillance over bays.
Queen Elizabeth Square, an area of up to 550 homes, is the second half of a larger redevelopment of the Gorbals collectively known as Crown Street. Historically, tenement flats were set over shops at street level with a space in the backs which the new scheme acknowledges as landscaped zones integral to the community of the buildings (rather than a place to absorb refuse disposal or washing, as had once been).
The new scheme projects a hard urban outer edge with homes up to the back line of the pavement, surrounding the softer, private centre. Car parking is exclusively on street and in Queen Elizabeth Square is unallocated after attempts to allocate in the earlier phase had met problems. However, about 85% is privately maintained by the regeneration company for residents (but not controlled): granite setts indicate a bay is not adopted.
Bays are arranged in two variations of a classical bay system set at right angles to wider than usual pavements; at corners in the block plan where there is no parking provision possible, an exceptionally deep pavement results. The first variation locates vehicles immediately within this pavement zone; maisonettes arranged below the two levels of flats above have a slightly raised ground floor to ensure some privacy. The second version uses a broad boulevard design with two rows of cars at right angles to the road in its landscaped centre, and carriageways either side.
Boulevards run mostly east-west over the site, or in areas where the geometry supports this formal model; characteristic curves to facades elsewhere use the
pavement system. Surface materials are paviors or setts laid to give geometric patterns. These are supported where parking is discouraged on the pavement's deep corners with stainless steel bollards, adding to the impression of a high quality robust environment.
The development features 2, 3 and 4 bedroom flats and maisonettes, as well as retail units, arranged in 4 storey perimeter terraces.
Plan showing location of the case study within the wider development.
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A block by architects Holmes Partnership showing how deep pavements at block corners are protected.
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Plan of part of the development showing on-street parking arrangement using a central reservation.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, whilst width of street allows high provision of car parking while contributing to sense of light and space in a high density layout. High quality of materials, and good layout.
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Two levels of flats topping maisonettes look onto right angled bays.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, whilst width of street allows high provision of car parking while contributing to sense of light and space in a high density layout. High quality of materials, and good layout.
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Raised ground floors boost surveillance.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, whilst width of street allows high provision of car parking while contributing to sense of light and space in a high density layout. High quality of materials, and good layout.
Be the first to add a comment!
Plan of part of the development showing on-street parking arrangement, right-angled to pavement.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, with strong integration of soft landscaping with parking solution. Well chosen model complementing strategic aims of the masterplan, with good quality materials and detailing.
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Staggered properties with French windows and gable lights boost surveillance.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, with strong integration of soft landscaping with parking solution. Well chosen model complementing strategic aims of the masterplan, with good quality materials and detailing.
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Shadows over bays demonstrate how many homes overlook bays.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, with strong integration of soft landscaping with parking solution. Well chosen model complementing strategic aims of the masterplan, with good quality materials and detailing.
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Traffic-calming raised tables make it easier for drivers to reverse out of bays.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, whilst width of street allows high provision of car parking while contributing to sense of light and space in a high density layout. High quality of materials, and good layout.
Be the first to add a comment!
Granite setts indicate unadopted bays.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, whilst width of street allows high provision of car parking while contributing to sense of light and space in a high density layout. High quality of materials, and good layout.
Be the first to add a comment!
Pinchpoints help to build defensible space.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, with strong integration of soft landscaping with parking solution. Well chosen model complementing strategic aims of the masterplan, with good quality materials and detailing.
Be the first to add a comment!
Bays, carriage and footpath share surface finish.
Proceed with Caution! - Some general safety issues associated with manoeuvring in and out of spaces, and residents must cross highway to access homes.
Green Light! - Generally good visual connection between residents and cars, with strong integration of soft landscaping with parking solution. Well chosen model complementing strategic aims of the masterplan, with good quality materials and detailing.
Be the first to add a comment!
Space submitted by Sam Brown
14 October 2013