Butterbiggins Road
Location: Butterbiggins Road, Glasgow
Client: Link Group and Govanhill HA
Value: £18 million
Status: Complete
The development responds directly to the established urban grain and architectural character of Govanhill, an area defined by traditional three- and four-storey Glasgow tenements dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The proposal respects this context while introducing a contemporary interpretation that supports ongoing regeneration.
The overall massing is organised to mediate between surrounding building heights. A seven-storey corner block addresses the prominent Butterbiggins Road / Victoria Road junction, reducing to five storeys northwards and transitioning to four-storey flatted blocks towards the north and east. This stepped approach ensures compatibility with adjacent new residential developments and existing buildings, reinforcing a coherent streetscape. Roof forms are pitched towards internal courtyards to improve daylight penetration and enhance residential amenity.
Buildings are arranged around landscaped communal gardens, promoting natural surveillance, security, and a strong sense of community. Ground-floor dwellings benefit from private garden spaces, while all blocks provide active street frontages with clearly defined communal entrances and secondary access to shared gardens. Recessed balconies animate key elevations while offering privacy, shelter, and solar shading
Materiality and detailing draw from local precedents. Projecting concrete bands reference the stone string courses typical of Glasgow tenements, helping to articulate scale, particularly on the taller corner block. Brick cloister walls and perforated Corten panels enclosing the gardens reinterpret the repetitive brick pier language of the former Larkfield Bus Depot.
The landscape strategy prioritises welcoming, green, and sustainable neighbourhood spaces, integrating tree planting, raingardens, permeable paving, and communal open spaces to support wellbeing, biodiversity, and social interaction.
Photography: Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd