109 Bluevale Street
Encyclopedia
The Gallowgate Twins is a local nickname
for a development of twin tower block
flats
situated in the east-end of Glasgow
, Scotland
. Officially known as 109 Bluevale Street and 51 Whitevale Street, the two towers stand as the tallest building in Scotland
., although they are not the buildings with the highest occupied floor level in the city (or Scotland) - this distinction belongs to the contemporary Red Road
estate on the north side of the city, nor are they the tallest freestanding structure in Scotland overall - this title belongs to the Glasgow Tower
on Clydeside.
However, despite this, many Glasgow
residents, and other citizens of Scotland
may describe the buildings "an eye sore", compared to the like's of the proposed East One
and Hilton Glasgow hotel.
The local nickname for the buildings results from their apparent resemblence to the twin towers of the ill-fated World Trade Centre in New York
when viewed from a distance in silhouette from a certain angle, due to their square planform, overall proportions, and their relationship to each other, and the fact that one of the towers carries a large mobile phone transmission mast.
s in the 1960s and early 1970s on a grand scale, which led to Glasgow becoming the first truly high-rise city in Britain. However, many of these "schemes", as they are known, were poorly planned, or badly designed and cheaply constructed, which led to many of the blocks becoming insanitary magnets for crime and deprivation. It would not be until 1988 that high rises were built in the city once again, with the construction of the 16-storey Forum Hotel
next to the SECC
. The 20-storey Hilton Hotel in Anderston
followed in 1990. From the early 1990s, Glasgow City Council and its successor, the Glasgow Housing Association
, have run a programme of demolishing the worst of the residential tower blocks, including Basil Spence
's Gorbals
blocks in 1993.
The buildings are also unique in their construction - featuring hydraulic jacks in their foundations to combat sway due to their height.
of the intention to demolish the development , citing the unpopularity of the estate among residents and high maintenance and running costs. The buildings have also suffered structural problems over time. Work to demolish the towers is set to begin after the demolition of the Red Road
estate.
Property developers are currently planning several new upmarket residential and office high-rises along the River Clyde
, and in the city's financial district, which will far surpass these in height.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
for a development of twin 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...
flats
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
situated in the east-end 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...
, Scotland
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...
. Officially known as 109 Bluevale Street and 51 Whitevale Street, the two towers stand as the tallest building in Scotland
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...
., although they are not the buildings with the highest occupied floor level in the city (or Scotland) - this distinction belongs to the contemporary Red Road
Red Road (flats)
The Red Road Flats are a high-rise housing complex which lies between the districts of Balornock and Barmulloch in the north east of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It consists of eight multi-storey blocks. Two are "slabs", much wider in cross-section than they are deep. Six are "points" — more of a...
estate on the north side of the city, nor are they the tallest freestanding structure in Scotland overall - this title belongs to the Glasgow Tower
Glasgow Tower
Glasgow Tower is a free-standing tower located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland and forms part of Glasgow Science Centre complex.-Background and world records:...
on Clydeside.
However, despite this, many 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...
residents, and other citizens of Scotland
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...
may describe the buildings "an eye sore", compared to the like's of the proposed East One
East One
East One, also known as Dalmarnock Tower, is a proposed high-rise residential building in Glasgow, Scotland. As originally proposed, the tower included a hotel, and had a projected height of 180.00 metres over 55 floors, which would have made it the second-tallest building in the United Kingdom...
and Hilton Glasgow hotel.
The local nickname for the buildings results from their apparent resemblence to the twin towers of the ill-fated World Trade Centre in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
when viewed from a distance in silhouette from a certain angle, due to their square planform, overall proportions, and their relationship to each other, and the fact that one of the towers carries a large mobile phone transmission mast.
History
Faced with crippling housing shortages in the immediate post-war period, the city undertook the building of multi-storey housing in tower blockTower 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 in the 1960s and early 1970s on a grand scale, which led to Glasgow becoming the first truly high-rise city in Britain. However, many of these "schemes", as they are known, were poorly planned, or badly designed and cheaply constructed, which led to many of the blocks becoming insanitary magnets for crime and deprivation. It would not be until 1988 that high rises were built in the city once again, with the construction of the 16-storey Forum Hotel
Crowne Plaza Glasgow
Crowne Plaza Glasgow is a high-rise skyscraper in the Finnieston area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is a 4-star hotel on the banks of the River Clyde adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and the Clyde Auditorium ....
next to the SECC
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
. The 20-storey Hilton Hotel in Anderston
Anderston
Anderston is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is on the north bank of the River Clyde and extends to the western edge of the city centre...
followed in 1990. From the early 1990s, Glasgow City Council and its successor, the Glasgow Housing Association
Glasgow Housing Association
Glasgow Housing Association is one of the largest social landlords in the UK, with more than 50,000 tenants and 26,500 factored homeowners across Glasgow....
, have run a programme of demolishing the worst of the residential tower blocks, including 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...
's 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...
blocks in 1993.
The buildings are also unique in their construction - featuring hydraulic jacks in their foundations to combat sway due to their height.
Future
In November 2011, it was announced by Glasgow Housing AssociationGlasgow Housing Association
Glasgow Housing Association is one of the largest social landlords in the UK, with more than 50,000 tenants and 26,500 factored homeowners across Glasgow....
of the intention to demolish the development , citing the unpopularity of the estate among residents and high maintenance and running costs. The buildings have also suffered structural problems over time. Work to demolish the towers is set to begin after the demolition of the Red Road
Red Road (flats)
The Red Road Flats are a high-rise housing complex which lies between the districts of Balornock and Barmulloch in the north east of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It consists of eight multi-storey blocks. Two are "slabs", much wider in cross-section than they are deep. Six are "points" — more of a...
estate.
Property developers are currently planning several new upmarket residential and office high-rises along 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....
, and in the city's financial district, which will far surpass these in height.