Environmental planners, designers and management consultants Land Use Consultants, Glasgow, worked as part of a multi-disciplinary client team that included Civil Engineers and Building Contractors’ R J McLeod to deliver this large-scale sustainable development framework in the east of Glasgow: a new city district, with improved connectivity to other regeneration sites.
The public realm needed to be deliberately bold, as it would have to stand alone until nearby development plans were realised and LUC and Hardscape were delighted that the scheme was recognised with a Scottish Design Award in 2015.
The brief
This part of the masterplan was an advanced phase of public realm and landscape works to tie the new development strands together. It was deliberately bold as the developments surrounding were still a while away from being built. LUC wanted to design a scheme that would stand the test of time with the masterplan covering approximately 30 acres and potentially providing work places for around 15,000 people. With something this grand, it became apparent these developments would take a number of years to materialise.
Materials used
Hardscape supplied materials for the new pedestrian and cycling walkway to link the Clyde Walkway and also linking South Dalmarnock Bridge with the centre of the Masterplan site. LUC Glasgow specified 70mm x 600mm x 100mm Kellen Breccia Tagenta C and Bianco; 100mm x 100mm x 80mm Kellen Breccia Tagenta B and C, Bianco, Grigio and Nerosso Argento. The 600mm x 70mm plan size is a unique size which helped to secure the specification and provided a ‘plank aesthetic’ to create a distinctive landscape scheme.
The scheme was designed to be deliberately bold as it would have to stand alone until the development nearby commenced. The plank-like size also tied in with the overall look of the scheme from the air (see image courtesy of LUC imagery).
Royal White granite benches were also used across the scheme together with Royal White granite kerbs and steps.
The end result
Described as ‘bold and futuristic’, the scheme was the first step towards creating a new city district transforming the Shawfield area in Glasgow’s East End. Hardscape’s use of its’ innovative and striking Kellen material, both in size differentiation and colour contrast added to the ‘bold and futuristic’ ethos. LUC Glasgow also led the design and implementation of an advanced phase of public realm and landscape works that now forms a framework for new development to be realised over a 20-25 year pipeline.
Hardscape’s Scotland representative, Aidan Baun commented: “Kellen is a reliable and affordable material that can be used in a variety of formats depending on the required use. The colours and any unique size will be available as and when these developments materialise in the future development phases.
