Residents clearly adore their convivial, attractive and robustly detailed homes designed by Page\Park Architects with older occupants in mind, which have won a 2024 RIAS Award
2024 RIAS Award
North Gate Social Housing, Glasgow
Page\Park Architects for New Gorbals Housing Association
Contract value: £5.96m
GIA: 3427m2
This urban social housing scheme on the south side of Glasgow is primarily designed to suit the needs of older residents. It comprises 31, one- and two-bedroom apartments with shared facilities at ground floor including a communal lounge, kitchen, activity area, bike store and laundry.
With eight floors and a distinctive three-fingered parti, the housing creates a landmark feature at the end of the vista from Albert Bridge. It also provides expansive views across the north of the city, which the occupants can enjoy by way of the recessed balconies and generous glazing. The architect was required to maximise density on the triangular site and achieved this through a carefully splayed plan. This allows each of the five apartments on each floor to have a dual or triple aspect outlook.
The project is a very good example of high-density, mid-rise development and, although higher than the immediate neighbours, works well in the scale of the surrounding context. Brick detailing has been carefully used both inside and out, providing a durable, robust and tactile finish which makes the common parts of the building particularly distinctive. As a result, the shared areas feel cared-for and loved, and residents look after their homes meticulously with small moves to personalise balconies and door thresholds.
The importance of community could also not go unnoticed – although all the residents live independently, they appear to enjoy an active social life within the building. Of particular note are the light and spacious layouts and the expansive views provided by the fenestration to each apartment. Also noteworthy is the penetration of natural light into the communal cores, which helps to make the internal journey from pavement to front door uplifting and joyful. It was overwhelmingly apparent that residents really love where they live.
The limited landscape areas have been thoughtfully considered: they have been skilfully detailed and include rain gardens with small pockets of planting. The scheme should also be commended for being car-free.
The jury was impressed by the architect’s commitment to providing a convivial, attractive and robustly-detailed set of homes which the residents clearly adore, as well as making a new part of the city.
See the rest of the RIAS winners here. And all the RIBA Regional Awards here