Plans to Demolish B-Listed Building For Commonwealth Development Plans

A 1907 board school designed by architects Thomson & Turnbull is under threat of demolition following plans submitted by Glasgow's Celtic Football Club to replace it with an expanded superstore. The club want to knock down the disused London Road Primary School as part of their plan to regenerate the area around the ground in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Included in the plans is the formation of a landscaped avenue paved with inscribed stones which would run from Dalmarnock Station past several key venues towards the football stadium. Due to financial budgets and time constraints, it seems unlikely the club's full plans could be realised before the start of the games, however the avenue is being heralded as a necessary development to make the area more attractive to the influx of visitors expected next year.

London Road Primary is understood to be Glasgow's sole remaining B-listed school and is a fine example of English Baroque with carved ornamental features and Venetian and circular windows in the pedimented end bays. Historic Scotland are bound to object to the proposed plans, however as the school has been unoccupied for several years, the case could well proceed on the basis of the building being structurally unsound. Councillors are in support of the club's plans, perceiving the school as an unnecessary eyesore making it even likelier that the building will eventually be razed. Indeed, it seems that the financial advantages to be gained from redevelopment in the East End will inevitably outweigh the costs of conserving some of its architecture.

The Glass-House Community Led Design

They say people in glass-houses shouldn't throw stones but community participation experts 'The Glass-House Community Led Design' have been pitching some weighty ideas around community engagement in urban design since 2006. 

The charitable organisation brings together communities and regeneration professionals to equip both groups with the skills to contribute to urban design projects that benefit local people. The idea is to better inform the design process with the result being "more intelligent, dynamic and sustainable places." And the theory is backed up by practice; the group are actively using their experiences of supporting projects to influence policy and practice around the issue of community led design. Projects have so far included various buildings, spaces, homes and neighbourhoods including the Aviemore Sports Centre Project with collaborative research projects underway at University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham and the Open University.

Follow the links to the group's blog, project showcase and list of useful resources for a directory of regularly updated opinion, project information and publications. Also, look out for touring events which offer the opportunity for everyone with an interest in urban design and community initiatives to share experiences and debate the priorities behind area-planning and redevelopment projects.

One for the diary - Owen Hatherley!

Architectural critic Owen Hatherley is to chair a free event 'The Golden Tenement Talk' next Saturday, 17th November between 2pm and 4pm at The People's Palace in Glasgow. The talk accompanies the exhibition, 'Scotland Can Make It!' at which six souvenir prototypes inspired by the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are on display to the public until 13th January 2012. The souvenirs, designed and manufactured entirely in Scotland, aim to offer a lasting material legacy of both major events whilst expressing a strong message about Scotland’s rich and imaginative cultural landscape.

In keeping with this theme of heritage, Owen Hatherley's talk will explore the impact of major events on buildings and cities using Glasgow, Manchester and London as examples to engender debate around the broader architecture themes of urban regeneration, displacement and identity.

To book your place at the event, you can contact Panel on 0141 559 4980 or at info@wearepanel.co.uk 
http://www.scotlandcanmakeit.com/events

Glasgow Commonwealth Arena Opens

Glasgow City Council opened its sports facilities at the Glasgow Commonwealth Arena to the public this month as work is completed on the connecting sports arena and velodrome ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The building designed by 3DReid architects houses two distinct arenas connected by office space. A brief overview of the design can be viewed on the architect's site as well as information on 3DReid's corpus of work in a wide range of sectors including retail, hotels, health, education and airport facilities: http://www.3dreid.com

Qatar's football stadia for 2022

Following the decision to hold the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar, there is increasing interest in the design of the stadia, particularly given the country's aspiration to stage a zero carbon tournament. One starting point for information on the web is the MENA (Middle East construction news) Infrastructure website, which includes architects' visualisations in the form of movies of each stadium, together with background information.