The Former British Linen Bank building was built in 1900 and designed by architect James Salmon. Salmon was known for his 'free style' which often incorporated Art Nouveau, with a playful and inventive spin. Motifs such as arches, pediments and bay windows were often juxtaposed, which is evident at 166 Gorbals Street, particularly with the metalwork, both inside and outside the building.
SHA acquired the building in the early 1990s from Glasgow City Council and recently succeeded in securing a funding package amounting to £2.6 million. The funders and supporters of the project include Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Government, Architectural Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and Southside Housing Association.
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SHA has been working to restore the Category A listed tenement building while remaining sensitive to the original design and features. This included restoring the former bank windows and shopfront, repairing the building's fabric, replacing the flat windows, and adding the missing turret and chimneys. The company has also introduced new artwork to the blank gable, designed by Gorbals Art Project, using laser-cut corten steel. The new artwork leads from the ground to the turret and will be backlit at night to create a landmark for the area.
166 Gorbals Street is now complete and includes six 2-bedroom homes for mid-market rent, which aim to provide quality, affordable homes to those with modest incomes.
Donna Reilly, Head of Development at Southside Housing Association described the 166 Gorbals Street project: "This was a real pleasure to work on. From day one, the team appreciated the need to ensure that the rich history and features of this building were maintained and restored, where possible, and replicated, where not. We're incredibly proud to be able to return this beautiful building to its former glory, creating homes for mid-market rent and commercial spaces for the community to benefit from."
(MH/CM)
