Hutchesontown
Encyclopedia
Hutchesontown is a district
in the Scottish
city of Glasgow
. It is situated south of the River Clyde
. It forms part of the Gorbals
.
In McNeill Street, Hutchesontown has one of Glasgow's original Carnegie libraries, deftly designed by the Inverness born architect James Robert Rhind
.
Following the Second World War, Hutchesontown was declared a Comprehensive Development Area (CDA) in the aftermath of the Bruce Report
. This called for the mass gentrification
of the area which took the form of slum clearance and the replacement of overcrowded, insanitary tenement housing with new homes in high rise tower block
s.
Hutchesontown was effectively used as a testing ground for similar schemes around the city - it was decided to divide the area into five “zones” which were given to different architects to implement a mixture of different schemes.
Area A – on the northern side of Hutchesontown, was devoted to conventional maisonette style housing.
Area B – was given to architect Robert Matthew
. His Waddell Court 16-storey blocks – built in 1964 - on the banks of the River Clyde
still stand, and are widely regarded as the most successful of the Gorbals high-rises and have received numerous refurbishments in their lifetime.
Area C
– was the responsibility of Basil Spence
, and became the most infamous of the five schemes. The Queen Elizabeth Square blocks encountered numerous structural and social problems, and were demolished in 1993.
Area D – was developed by the newly created Scottish Special Housing Association; and consisted of four 24 storey blocks, and an estate of smaller maisonettes and 8-storey “mini-multis”. Two of the towers were demolished in 2004, the remaining two refurbished.
Area E consisted of an estate of five storey deck access blocks, and two 24-storey towers constructed in 1968. The low rise buildings became infested with damp and condensation problems within a few short years and were declared unfit for habitation. They were finally demolished in 1987. The two towers were condemned in 2010 and are scheduled for blow-down some time around 2012-2013.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
in the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
city of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. It is situated south of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. It forms part of the Gorbals
Gorbals
The Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
.
In McNeill Street, Hutchesontown has one of Glasgow's original Carnegie libraries, deftly designed by the Inverness born architect James Robert Rhind
James Robert Rhind
James Robert Rhind, architect, was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1854 and trained as an architect in his father's local practice.He was successful in the architectural competition for new libraries to be constructed in Glasgow following Andrew Carnegie’s gift of £100,000 to the city in 1901...
.
Following the Second World War, Hutchesontown was declared a Comprehensive Development Area (CDA) in the aftermath of the Bruce Report
Bruce Report
The Bruce Report is the name commonly given to two urban redevelopment reports of the Glasgow Corporation ....
. This called for the mass gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
of the area which took the form of slum clearance and the replacement of overcrowded, insanitary tenement housing with new homes in high rise tower block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
s.
Hutchesontown was effectively used as a testing ground for similar schemes around the city - it was decided to divide the area into five “zones” which were given to different architects to implement a mixture of different schemes.
Area A – on the northern side of Hutchesontown, was devoted to conventional maisonette style housing.
Area B – was given to architect Robert Matthew
Robert Matthew
Sir Robert Hogg Matthew, OBE, FRIBA was a Scottish architect and a leading proponent of modernism.- Early life & studies :Robert Matthew was the son of John Matthew . He was born and brought up in Edinburgh, and attended the Edinburgh College of Art.- Career :Robert was apprenticed with his...
. His Waddell Court 16-storey blocks – built in 1964 - on the banks of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
still stand, and are widely regarded as the most successful of the Gorbals high-rises and have received numerous refurbishments in their lifetime.
Area C
Hutchesontown C
Hutchesontown C was the name given to a so-called Comprehensive Development Area of an area of Hutchesontown, a district in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Its centrepiece were two 20-storey slab blocks at 16-32 Queen Elizabeth Square, designed by Sir Basil Spence and containing 400 homes...
– was the responsibility of Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
, and became the most infamous of the five schemes. The Queen Elizabeth Square blocks encountered numerous structural and social problems, and were demolished in 1993.
Area D – was developed by the newly created Scottish Special Housing Association; and consisted of four 24 storey blocks, and an estate of smaller maisonettes and 8-storey “mini-multis”. Two of the towers were demolished in 2004, the remaining two refurbished.
Area E consisted of an estate of five storey deck access blocks, and two 24-storey towers constructed in 1968. The low rise buildings became infested with damp and condensation problems within a few short years and were declared unfit for habitation. They were finally demolished in 1987. The two towers were condemned in 2010 and are scheduled for blow-down some time around 2012-2013.