Glasgow's 'love-hate' relationship with 'ugly' buildings explored

A new exhibition aims to provide some fascinating insights into the famous structures, past and present, which have divided residents, architects and academics for decades.

The Gallowgate Twins, for example, were the notorious Bluevale and Whitevale flats, 31-storey blocks built in the city’s East End in 1969.

(Image: Newsquest)

They were then Scotland’s tallest residential buildings, and the second highest public housing schemes in the UK behind the Barbican estate in London.

After originally being condemned in 2011, they were demolished in early 2016.

Other Brutalist gems in Glasgow include the former Glasgow College of Building and Printing tower near George Square, the Savoy Centre on Sauchiehall Street and Hillhead Library.

Hillhead Library (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

Brutal Glasgow, featuring work of Glasgow-based illustrator Nebo Peklo (Natalie Tweedie), will also include first-hand stories from those who lived, worked and socialised in these monumental structures.

“For many people, Brutalism is a byword for ugly,” says curator Rachel Loughran.

(Image: Glasgow City Heritage Trust)

 “Or worse still - concrete. For others it’s iconic. And for many Glaswegians, witnesses to the rapid rise and fall of tower blocks across the city, Brutalism means failure.”

She adds: “Its legacy is divisive but crucial to the city's heritage. A building is more than just its materials, it's a store of memories and a marker of our social and cultural history.”

The exhibition explores the complex, sometimes surprising narratives underneath the concrete, adds Rachel.

“Curating Natalie Tweedie’s arresting illustrative designs with interactive multimedia has been a focused and rewarding task,” she explains.

(Image: Nebo Peklo)

(Image: Nebo Peklo)

“It’s seen me up tower blocks, down in nightclubs - yes, The Savoy - and gaining valuable insights from guest writers, community contributors and my outstanding partners, Glasgow City Heritage Trust.

“If I have one aim, it’s to encourage people to see their city and its buildings with a renewed interest as I have done myself researching and developing Brutal Glasgow.”

The exhibition features personal memories from those with direct experience of living and working in the buildings showcased in the exhibition, says artist Natalie.

 “Through my work, I aim to create a sense of connection for people - whether it's the street they grew up on or the building where they celebrated significant moments,” she says.

“I want to bring beauty to buildings which some people would consider ugly.

“It's a privilege to contribute to an exhibition that celebrates the powerful and often overlooked beauty of Brutalist architecture in our city.”

The term Brutalist comes from the French phrase ‘beton brut’ meaning ‘raw concrete’ and it refers to a stark style of functionalist architecture, especially of the 1950s and 1960s, characterised by the use of concrete in massive blocks.

Savoy Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Rachel Kacir, heritage manager at the exhibition organisers Glasgow City Heritage Trust, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the Brutal Glasgow exhibition at our office in Bell Street, right in the heart of the Merchant City.

“Collaborating with Rachel and Natalie on this project has been a joy, and the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the city’s built environment, inviting the public to engage with and appreciate these much maligned structures.”

The free exhibition will be open every day of the Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival, which runs from September 16 to 22, and then Wednesday to Friday weekly until October 25, and also on October 26 and 27.