McGinlay Bell were asked to undertake a study to consider the refurbishment & redevelopment project for Cranhill Development Trust who provide community-based support services and activities to the diverse community of Cranhill.

The site of the Cranhill Development Trust Building (Former Cranhill Parish Church) is situated within the Cranhill area of Glasgow, within Greater Easterhouse and is contained by the M8 to the North and Cranhill Park to the South of the Site.

Our architectural designs are initially organised by responding to the needs of the programme. The feasibility draws out two architectural responses or design solutions as a means of visualising the clients brief  – A ‘cloistered’ wrap-round building / A ‘chapter house’ bolt-on building.

Solution 01 introduces new programme by wrapping the external ground floor plan by addition of a new single storey ‘cloistered’ structure. The structure, lightweight in its considered construction, creates a tactile but robust quality to both its interior and external materiality.

Solution 02 proposes a new signature annex to the north of the site with a ‘bolt on’ structured single storey linkage cloister. The design progressively considers the importance of the CDT’s active landscape and develops a new ‘flexible’ and ‘accessible’ hall to sit amongst and address the gardens.