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Rottenrow Gardens, Glasgow
Rottenrow Gardens, Glasgow
below left
Front portico of the old
Rottenrow Maternity Hospital
now retained to be incorporated
into the new Rottenrow
Gardens.
below right
The Rottenrow Maternity
Hospital during demolition.
Rottenrow Gardens, Glasgow
Plan of the Gardens
Rottenrow Gardens, Glasgow
Introduction Text
Client
University of Strathclyde
Project Managers
James Barr Chartered
Surveyors
Quantity Surveyors
Robinson Low Francis
Structural Engineers
Woolgar Hunter
Main Contractor
ERDC
Project Cost
£550,000
Status
To be completed 2003
A solitary entrance portico and an isolated
stone arch are all that remain of the
Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital, more
popularly know as "Rottenrow". They stand
in a prime position in the city centre of
Glasgow on a site that will soon become
the Rottenrow Gardens in the University of
Strathclyde John Anderson Campus. Dating
from 1859, at this location, Rottenrow held
a multitude of memories for the families of
the many children born there, so much so
that on announcement of its demolition the
University was inundated with requests to
buy a brick from the building.
This dramatically sloping site at the
heart of the campus is key to Strathclyde
University's future development. As final
building proposals will take a number of
years to complete Gross Max have
created a terraced garden designed
to contain the future buildings. With
temporary and permanent features,
the garden's core will be formed by a
generous flight of steps bridging an eight
meter height difference, allowing views,
movement and seating.
These steps extend
into a series of grassed terraces alongside
a progression of shallow pools at different
levels. Conscious of the significance of the
site fragments of the old hospital, the
portico and stone arch, are incorporated as
found objects within the garden.
As a contrasting alternative to the civic
formality of nearby George Square,
this new public space will form a
playful, layered urban garden that will be
enjoyable to encounter, particularly for those
with an emotional tie to its location.