Design process

Design philosophy
Glasgow's public bodies and key individuals recognised the need for a partnership approach and the commitment of significant resources to achieve a long-term solution for the Gorbals. The need for a more sensitive masterplanning approach to that of post-war comprehensive redevelopment was also recognised.  The approach ultimately adopted was akin to the Berlin IBA model, first presented at the Berlin International Exhibition of Architecture and Construction (IBA) in 1984. Under the model, a substantial new housing district is successfully created to a masterplan using many different architects designing separate human-scale blocks. The objectives of the original masterplan were to bring benefits not only to areas contained within its site boundary, but to the wider Gorbals area, the main aims of the project being:

• Redevelopment to produce a high quality urban environment
• Integration of development with the surrounding area, both physically and socially
• Improvement to the Gorbals economy.

These aims were delivered by the adoption of the Urban Village concept, which involves mixed land uses, a social mix and high quality urban design.  The key principles adopted for the design of Crown Street ensured a design-led approach to the regeneration process through public funding and planning approval that was conditional upon integrated spatial masterplans.
 
A number of key concepts were identified in the masterplan, relating to the concept of a liveable city, grid formation, perimeter blocks, joined up streets and the reintroduction of the tenement block.  The original masterplanners, CZWG, were involved at each stage of the development and tender process for each of the residential blocks in order to ensure a consistency of vision across the individual designs. For each design, it was stipulated that 1% of the development costs should be put towards public art, either within the building façades or as street works.

Community regeneration
The involvement of both existing and new residents was a requirement throughout the development process, and was particularly important in overcoming the unpopular image of the area and restoring confidence.  A clear framework of policy and masterplanning goals was established at the start of the process of community participation, and has set a clear framework for on-going involvement.  This has involved direct community representation on the steering group, but it has proved difficult to involve the wider community beyond a formal and reactive process.

Regeneration of the Gorbals economy is to be achieved in the short-term by the use of local contractors and the assessment of developers on the basis of their local employment and training proposals, and in the longer-term through the related Gorbals Initiative, which provides a range of services to help individuals and companies.  The Initiative, located just to the north of Crown Street, aims to develop the local economy of the Gorbals by helping individuals to access jobs, providing support for the most disadvantaged and building the capacity of the whole community.  The Initiative has been particularly successful at placing local residents in employment at the hotel developed as part of the Crown Street Regeneration Project.

New Gorbals Housing Association (NGHA), which manages the social housing in the neighbourhood, has located its offices on Crown Street to provide an accessible source of information and support for residents.  This is credited with the high levels of satisfaction in the social housing.  A trust has been established to manage the maintenance of the social housing blocks and each block also has a dedicated residents association.