The tenement block is another widely distributed housing form where the type is more significant than any particular architect’s rendition. It is in many ways the diametrical opposite (in urban terms) to the terrace. Individual front doors are not visible from the street; however, like the Georgian terrace the ensemble of units is more important than individual buildings. Although the use of an internal vertical core giving access to multiple units on different floors disconnects residents from the street the space is treated as a distinct intermediate space. The decorative tiles add a sense of dignity to what is essentially a corridor, while the robustness of the stairs could be seen as suggesting a continuity with public street realm. In many cases the placement of windows marks a light source as destination while reconnecting the interior with the exterior. Nevertheless, the single entry point accessed via a door to a collection of flats required a new and distinct space to mediate between the home and the city.
Schema
- street (city) ⇒ tenement door (boundary) ⇒ corridor ⇒ stair ⇒ landing ⇒ door (pair)
Unity identity
- Emphasis is on the block; unit identity on the street is weak.
- Axonometric from The Tenement Handbook, John Gilbert & Ann Flint, Rutland Press, 1993.
- Plans, section and elevations drawings from Glasgow City Council, Libraries, Information and Learning.
- Black & white photograph from Glasgow City Council, Libraries, Information and Learning.
- Street Views courtesy of Google Maps.
- 1st interior lobby image Glen Bowman, Flickr.
- 2nd & 3rd interior lobby images from Tenement Tiles, Twitter.
- Map courtesy of OS Digimap.
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