May 13 2025
The retrofit of a prominent office building in Glasgow city centre as student housing is taking a more streamlined approach to the street corner with a planning revision.
3DReid Architects returned to the drawing board at 33 Bothwell Street following feedback for their January submission, with moves to rationalise the rooftop extension by removing a ‘lantern’ corner feature to simplify the facade.
In a statement, 3DReid told Urban Realm: “Following discussions with Glasgow City Council’s planning department, we have re-visited the design to establish a simpler and more coherent appearance to the main building frontages.
“The set-back rooftop additions now continue the horizontal composition of the existing building with repetitive, vertical, bronze anodised aluminium framing to prevent solar gain and control visual clutter. The removal of the corner element significantly reduces the visual dominance of the rooftop additions.
“The existing regular rhythm of fenestration is re-instated generally to ribbon openings and at 5th floor, intermittent bays are re-instated to relate to the classical frieze and dentils of the neighbouring building on Wellington Street. In addition, a lighter bronze tone to the cladding is more discrete affording the existing stone banding more visual prominence.”
The revised proposals have been filed for detailed planning consent.
The fenestration of lower levels has also been simplified
The revised student housing scheme wears its crown more lightly on the head