Woodlands Densified - Housing Proposal

Woodlands Densified is a housing project proposing a strategic regeneration of Glasgow’s tenement courtyards, illustrated by a prototype situated along Woodlands Road in Glasgow, UK. Intensive analysis of the area and the typical tenement revealed that the currently under-used spaces within Glasgow’s perimeter blocks provide the potential for a renewed awareness of this historic housing typology. Our proposal reinstates the beneficial character of the once prevalent communal facilities in these backcourts and furthermore, intends to bring back family living near the city centre by including diverse and complementary supportive amenities in the housing scheme.

Along existing lanes, additional housing and smaller retail/working units are created within the perimeter block. These upgrade the courtyards and allow the whole block to profit from new community facilities located along new internal routes. For the block prototype, new facilities include a toy library, a canteen and the service of a communal caretaker (Hausmeister). Small retail/ studio units provide ideal working space for young professionals, artists or craftsmen who contribute to a cultural and creative atmosphere. A home zone between the units and the perimeter block ensures a car-free living environment transforming the routes into extended living rooms. On Woodlands Road, the proposal also suggests repairing the currently incomplete perimeter block and re-establishing the lively streetscape. The new mixed-use courts support the community and reinstate the tenement’s backcourts as service and working spaces.

This new housing strategy not only integrates itself into an existing urban pattern but also epitomises the successful supporting characteristics of the perimeters’ backcourts. As a principle, the proposal can be seen as an initial response on how to reinstate the backcourts’ function and is an exemplary approach for the regeneration and upgrading of similar under-used residential backcourts in Glasgow.

Block Strategy

Community Facilities

Section South-West

Ground Floor