Glasgow Launches Design Contest to Revive Historic Fire-Damaged Sites

Glasgow City Council is exploring the possibility of launching a design contest to redevelop two historic sites in the Pollokshields neighborhood that were severely damaged by fires in 2019 and 2020. The fires destroyed two B-listed tenement buildings, which have since been demolished, leaving the sites derelict.

The council hopes the contest will attract proposals that are "sympathetic to the heritage surroundings" while taking a creative and innovative approach to the redevelopment. A partner organization would administer the contest, which will be informed by a brief developed by the city's planning experts.

A judging panel consisting of design and heritage experts, planning and development officers, city councilors, and local community representatives will select the winning design. The winning architects would then be funded to fully develop their proposal.

Councilor Ruairi Kelly, the convener for Housing, Development and Built Heritage, believes the design and architectural talent in Glasgow will result in "really innovative and exciting proposals" for the sites. He emphasized the importance of restoring the vibrancy and quality of the area, which has been at the heart of Pollokshields' commercial and residential life for over a century.

The initiative has been welcomed by Niall Murphy, director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, who sees it as an opportunity to "reinvigorate the area through thoughtful place-mending" that celebrates the neighborhood's rich Victorian architecture. David Cook, chief executive of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, also noted that the new proposals could bring much-needed new housing to the area.