A leading Scots architect has called for an investigation and questioned the proposed demolition of high rise blocks in Glasgow which he described as ‘historic’, reports The Herald Scotland.
image: for illustration – By Lairich Rig, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83342984
‘…I can’t think of a similar site of such quality anywhere in Glasgow…’
The Herald Scotland writes:
Professor Alan Dunlop will… speak at a public meeting organised by the residents in an area of Glasgow’s Maryhill.
Last December Wyndford Residents’ Union were among tenants informed that four tower blocks, which had switched from landlords Cube Housing Association to Glasgow Housing Association, were earmarked for demolition. The 600 flats would be demolished to make way for 300 new energy-efficient affordable homes under the £54million project.
It is understood that 200 of the 600 flats remain occupied by people who don’t want to lose their community.
Mr Dunlop, a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Royal Society of Arts and who trained at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, will address the meeting at Maryhill Hub, later this afternoon.
He said given the national strategy for architects, and discussed at COP 26 world climate conference last year, is to retrofit, a more climate friendly option…
Mr Dunlop said: “I thought Glasgow had changed its attitude towards its tower blocks…”
Mr Dunlop said he was aware of the Wyndford flats architecturally and described them as stunning.
He added: “I can’t think of a similar site of such quality anywhere in Glasgow. It is south facing, it borders right into the River Kelvin and is on the edge of a high quality residential area… These four towers represent the of Le Corbusier and as consequence of that I think they have historic importance.”
