[Architecture] Developments in Glasgow

[erithromycin]

What I don't understand is how the new Transport Museum is going to be integrated with other transport. I mean, yes, it's by the Clydeside Expressway and the river (obviously), but the old one was just off the underground at Kelvinhall, and there's a scad of buses that go by there.

[JennyPiccolo]

i think it means other transport as exhibits, like the tall ship, which doesnae fit in the car park at kelvinhall.

[poprock]

A dutch hotel chain called CitizenM are building a 180 bedroom hotel on the corner of Renfrew St and Hope St. It’ll only be three star, but the owners say it will be ‘cheap luxury’, and comparable to the interior of a private yacht or jet. It’s being built in a modular fashion, with rooms being assembled in Holland then shipped here like containers and slotted together on site.

Abercrombie & Fitch are rumoured to be opening at Silverburn, but I can’t see it myself. They usually go for city centre locations, not malls.

When the refurb of Frasers is finished, there’s talk of Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Dior, Tiffany and Co. and Mulberry all taking concessions inside.

[poprock]

Originally Posted by GoddamnElectric

Glasgow School of Art is currently holding a competition to design a new building opposite the iconic Mackintosh building.

The shortlist was announced two months ago:

Benson + Forsyth (London, UK)
Elder & Cannon (Glasgow, UK)
Francisco Mangado Architects (Pamplona, Spain)
Grafton Architects (Dublin, Ireland)
Hopkins (London, UK)
John McAslan and Partners with Nord Architects (London and Glasgow partnership)
Steven Holl Architects with JM Architects (New York and Glasgow partnership)

I’d like to see it go to McAslan & Nord, but suspect that Benson + Forsyth might be in with a bigger chance. All depends on what each proposal looks like, o’ course.

Elder & Cannon have a school building (St. Aloysius) really close by already, I doubt they’ll be invited to do this one as well.

A big noise was made to the press about how Mackintosh was only 28 when he designed the School of Art, so this new project was going to deliberately try and attract young up and coming architects … but then they stipulated a £10m minimum public liability insurance level, which counted out all but heavily established firms (hence the number of smaller local practices who had to partner with big out of towners in order to enter).

[frostbitejunkie]

Originally Posted by poprock

There’s a five star hotel opening at Blythswood Square later this year (Glasgow’s first), on the site of the old Royal Automobile Club.

The old BBC site at Queen Margaret Drive is being redeveloped into flats and (potentially) a hotel. Depends if anyone takes up the hotel lease. It’s on offer here.

Radisson's 5 star is it not? Either way, interesting thread

[poprock]

According to the interweb, you’re right. It says the Hilton is too. Strange, neither of them were last year. Still, the new one at Blythswood Square will be in a different league: A proper luxury hotel and not a place designed around business travellers. Something Glasgow sorely lacks at the moment. The Jumeriah that’s due to be built in town is being touted as six star, but there’s no such accreditation. They’re just making numbers up now. (The Jumeriah’s not going to happen until the old pawn shop gives up and sells anyway. The owner refuses, even though he’s been repeatedly offered a serious pile of cash.)

[i_am_blip]

Belstaff are opening a store in Princes Square.

If only i had 500 quid for a jacket...

[djtoast]

Originally Posted by poprock

(The Jumeriah’s not going to happen until the old pawn shop gives up and sells anyway. The owner refuses, even though he’s been repeatedly offered a serious pile of cash.)

eddie fox cant always be relied upon to make decisions that other people find easy to understand. [/tactful]

my understanding was that plans had been kinda shelved anyway for that project?

[poprock]

Nope. There’s a Compulsory Purchase Order on that wee place going through the courts right now. Public inquiry is due to start Sepember 1st.

[djtoast]

i'be kinda chuckling at the plans to stick a hotel next to the classic grand. i have mental images of certain forumers block-booking rooms every thursday so as to avoid stumbling home

[Withnail]

I thought that the place that used to be One Devonshire Gardens was 5 stars as well?

[djtoast]

it's a Hotel du Vin now. i spent two nights in the du Vin in Henley last week and it was very, very nice - the suite was spread over two floors and had a balcony with a hot-tub overlooking the thames... properly nice.

[Withnail]

That's the chap - I was under the impression that it was 5 stars (and would thus be a good place to take the missus on our anniversary)...

[poprock]

It’s no bad by Glasgow standards, but that’s only really because Glasgow’s starved of properly good hotels. Even though it’s now part of a chain and has lost most of it’s personality, it probably is your best bet for a bit of affordable luxury.

If you want something really special, head to Edinburgh for your anniversary instead. Tigerlily, The Glasshouse, The Witchery and The Prestonfield are all a million miles above Glasgow’s best at the moment.

[Witch]

2nd vote for The Witchery for something special, its IMMENSE and worth every single penny, can't say enough nice things about it