First Red Road tower block demolished
Red Road tower block before the demolition starts
Source: Young MediaEnd of the line for notorious Glasgow estate
This weekend saw the first phase of demolition of Glasgow’s infamous Red Road tower blocks.
Designed by architect Sam Bunton and built between 1964 and 1969, the triple-block of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) flats was blown down in a controlled explosion.
Alex McGuire, executive director of development and regeneration at the GHA, said: “The Red Road flats were popular in their day and are known around the world, but their time has come to an end.
“We’re pleased the demolition of the first of the Red Road blocks went according to plan.”
Due to the steel-frame structure of the flats, the bottom storeys of the block remained undisturbed after the blowdown. The remaining storeys will be demolished using machines.
The future of the site will now be discussed with Glasgow City Council.
The remaining seven multi-storeys in the area are to be demolished by 2017.
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Readers' comments (8)
nice pic... but the video on the Telegraph's website is better
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/architecture/9323622/Glasgows-Red-Road-flats-demolished.html#
Hope the housing in the foreground isn't the shape of things to come but fear I may be disappointed - the juxtaposition is pretty telling re. the state of mass housing in Britain.
Time to bring in Peter Barber.
oh yeah cos peter barber can magically solve 4th generation unemployment and herion addiction!
I belong tae Glasgow,
Dear ole Glasgow toon,
There's something the matter wi Glasgow
Cos the tower blocks are coming doon.
Wonderful to see all these 60's eyesores being demolished, makes the place far more uplifting, they were so dreary. Now you can see the countryside and the blue sky such an improvement. I can't stand the PR in this articlr 'popular in their day', this type of architecture was never popular, do they mean popular with people who were told that is the only housing they are being offered so you have no choice but to go there. Even the housing in front is a vast improvemnet to these ugly blocks blighting the skyline and people's level of happiness.
according to book by Alison Irvine who interviewed residents they were popular when they were first built.
yes please get peter barber on the case
It's a ambition of mine to watch a controlled explosion. I just wish they were more advertised!