Shawlands Bowling Club

Brick type used: Niveus

Project location: Shawlands, Glasgow

Project type: Residential

Architects: Holmes Miller Architects

BDA Brick Awards 2024 shortlisted project - Category: Small Housing Development

The new development at Shawlands Bowling Club on Glasgow’s south side ensured the survival of a precious 158-year old community asset. Having seen its membership decline, the club decided to take the proactive approach of selling unused land to secure its survival whilst simultaneously funding an upgrade of its clubhouse facilities. A little-used section of the clubhouse was also demolished to make way for the necessary enhancements.

Having considered a number of options, a proposal by Kelvin Properties was selected by The Club Committee to make best use of the land. The sustainability-led residential development that resulted provides an attractive new five-storey building consisting of 34 apartments with a generous roof garden.

The development meets the Gold-Hybrid Standard as defined by the Technical Handbook. The building benefits from enhanced building fabric thermal performance, along with LZC technologies, which results in reduced carbon emissions. The new two and three-bedroom homes also provide much-needed homes within a bustling community close to public amenities and parkland.

Although the locality does not possess a clear architectural style - the urban fabric is somewhat diverse with several individual structures separated by spaces - the scheme is still influenced by its setting and responds to neighbouring sandstone tenement buildings. The development also possesses a southerly aspect with large floor to ceiling glazing maximising natural light and enhancing wellbeing. Meanwhile, a new entranceway along Pollokshaws Road makes the club more visible and attractive to visitors.

Architects Holmes Miller specified a restrained palette of high-quality materials to construct the building. The most dominant of these is Ibstock Niveus brick. These attractive weathered buff bricks were chosen for their robust nature and ability to retain their aesthetic appeal with minimum maintenance over the years, whilst also complementing the surrounding buff sandstone context typical of the Glasgow urban fabric.

Set backs and subtractions were also employed to create further articulation on the elevations, while glazed juliet balconies also decorate the large glazed windows and solid brick background. Finally, the top storey penthouses were wrapped in gold metal cladding, which provides a feeling of warmth and a sense of luxury.

Overall, the development does not replicate but subtly addresses and enhances its setting with an eye-catching contemporary aesthetic. The restricted selection of materials results in a high quality contemporary design that is attractive to both residents and the wider public. Most importantly, however, the new development has ensured that Shawlands Bowling Club, whose history on the site stretches back to 1892, should be secure for the foreseeable future.