GOVANHILLBATHS COMMUNITY TRUST UPDATE 23 Appointment of Architects

After a very considerable architectural interest from a range of prestigious Glasgow and Edinburgh companies in our Project to re-open Govanhill Baths as a Healthy Living Centre , we have now appointed NORD Architects of Glasgow to proceed with our feasibility study and options analysis.

Two of NORD’s directors were project architects on the Tramway redevelopment development in Glasgow and NORD have just been included in The Architect journal's top 40 young British Practices.

We attach for your interest the vision that they have for the project. VISION

NORD DESIGN STATEMENT


NORD’s aim is to assist the Govanhill Baths Trust in determining the future for the Baths. The restoration of the 3 existing pools has been a key focus as part of a scheme for the whole building that will be financially sustainable for years to come. The current plans for the restoration of the full site at Calder Street includes a mixture of uses throughout different parts of the building which will offer a mixed use programme that is both physically and culturally sustainable for the building. Consultation with community members, the Trust’s Board, Glasgow Health Board, users of the closed baths and consideration of local needs from a recreative, health and sporting perspective has enabled us to produce a typical ‘day in the life’ diagrams which shows the full potential of the building as a Healthy Living Centre creating a community resource which will breath life back in to Govanhill.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS:
Govanhill Baths is a fine example of the high quality of social amenities provided in Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century Scotland. At this time Bath Houses were seen as a way of promoting cleanliness, exercise and the general self-improvement for the working classes.

Wash baths housed in cubicles in the upper level of the front building to Calder Street provided the local community with private washing facilities largely absent from working class dwellings. The building also housed a full Turkish Baths suite.

Facilities at Govanhill Pool were quite unique in the context of Glasgow in recent times with a segregated pool for men and women offering members of the BME communities a private bathing experience a facility absent from contemporary leisure pools.

The 2 main pools have changing cabins and are equipped with separate showers, the largest of the pools was historically a Gala pool in which civic events took place, seating is provided in the gallery for spectators again a key feature missing from most contemporary leisure pools.

Another notable feature is the stepped access to the main pool a feature much commented upon and welcomed by the physically impaired and elderly where entering the pool is a gradual process and non exclusive.

In one hundred years, whilst alterations and modifications have occurred, many have not been highly intrusive. Much of the original construction materials and finishes remain in situ and intact, presenting an invaluable opportunity to conserve a significant example of a type of building unique to the social conditions and political will prevalent at the time of construction. Listed grade ‘B’ The Govanhill Pool is one of the few Glasgow Bath Houses still standing. This would suggest that it is of great importance to Glasgow’s built heritage.

DESIGN TEAM

NORD’s approach has been guided by technical back up from Synergy water technology who are experts in the field of swimming pool technology and filtration systems. Synergy water technology have carried out a visual survey of the existing filtration system and associated plant and appendix 1 should be referred to for a summary of their findings. Along with Synergy NORD have been working with Buro Happold Engineers with whom we have a close working relationship. They offer specialist services in accessibility, environmental, fire engineering, structural and services strategies. NORD and Buro Happold have worked together on Tramway, where a services budget of £850,000 was married with an innovative fire engineering strategy. NORD and Buro Happold have also worked together on the £650,000 Royston recording Studios, £5.5 million pound McCormick Printworks redevelopment project and currently on the £550,000 Timespan Heritage Centre refurbishment. All of these projects have included the refurbishment of an existing Listed Building where budget constraints have focused the design team on an economical and integrated design and services approach. NORD and Buro Happold’s invaluable experience of working with buildings of this nature; similar in construction to the Govanhill Pool with similar technical requirements would help shape any future Applications for funding which are ambitious but economically realistic. NORD have a good working relationship with Glasgow’s Building Control Department. We feel our understanding of current technical legislation will help during the design development process. Buro Happold have outlined potential environmental strategies for the building and these should be referred to in Appendix 2.

DESIGN APPROACH AND ACCESS STRATEGY

NORD’s approach has been one of consolidation where the potential of existing spaces has been explored before offering up any new additions to the building. The key strategy for the building is the creation of a new internal ‘street’ incorporating a clear access / circulation strategy. The strategy allows a currently restrictive floor plan to offer links between existing spaces which currently do not exist while creating new opportunities for linkages to new spaces. The new internal street while offering better circulation throughout the building also allows the three pools to function independently. The ‘street’ acts as a central spine which connects the ‘wash house’ at the rear to the stone built front building on Calder Street. This simple move is then strengthened by the creation of a new feature staircase, which allows vertical circulation to the upper level and new external roof garden.

The positioning of a social space or new type of public space would be a key focus in the organisational strategy for the building encouraging cultural and social interaction and providing an environment where these interactions can occur. The potential for a range of more flexible spaces and in general ‘flexibility’ would be achieved through a comprehensive understanding of the life cycle of the building including day to day activities. A detailed understanding of the future potential of the building would be achieved through consultation with user group and client in workshop type forums which are continually evolving.

A new community garden has been proposed which moves the entrance and ramped access away from their existing restricted position on Calder Street to a position further east. This new public interface allows the building to connect more comfortably with the street creating an external social space where bikes can be parked, people can meet and events can happen. This new external space allows the creation of a new ‘focal’ point entrance giving way to an open plan foyer space, which marks the beginning of the internal ‘street’.

These outline proposals have already been presented to a large community meeting organized by the GBCT where they met with very considerable approval and enthusiasm. They have also been presented to a small group of the local politicians including Anne- Marie Miller, Malcolm Cunning and Frank McAveatie in a meeting held with Trust’s Board. Again they appeared here to meet with approval.

NORD have a reputation for being innovative in their architectural style and approach and with The Govanhill Pool NORD would strive to create a building in Govanhill which is architecturally inspirational, visually attractive, multi-functional and a strong focus for the local community.