The former Govan Burgh Chambers on Orkney Street, later used as a police station with a jail extension to the rear, sits isolated on a city block surrounded by roads and disconnected from the centre of Govan. Two other beautiful tenement buildings on Broomloan Road and Orkney Place nearby also sit in isolation. The removal of connecting built fabric around these buildings, and also along the length of Orkney Street, has created exposed open spaces and unused car parks. A general untidiness has evolved in this waste ground with overgrown scrub, dumping and graffiti on external walls.

Our study makes a positive move towards regenerating the building and surrounding area by incorporating a significant proportion of new building. New buildings are introduced and relationships are made between the new and existing built form and landscape. The buildings are stripped of later structural additions and modifications creating a blank canvas for new circulation and accommodation to be carefully attached to the north and west sides. New visually unified spaces are completely accessible for all users via a series of ramps and lifts. Contained in a light and colourful new connecting structure the stepping form of the extension allows maximum light to penetrate into the new sheltered courtyard space. This space will be hard landscaped to attract building users and local residents into the area at the same time increasing safety and creating the potential for a new cafe and community businesses.

Following our detailed study and successful planning application, the project was delivered on site by a larger commercial office with ataSTUDIO retaining a consultation role. Though they have reduced the new build extension due to funding cuts the essence of our design remains.