Flux
A Landscape for Change: The Govan Graving Docks Introduction
Concept
The Govan Graving Docks is a set of three dry docks, built in the 1870s and operating until its closure in 1987. When built, docks 1 and 3 were the deepest in Britain. The site has been derelict since it was abandoned in 1987. Since then vegetation and decay have taken over. In 2003 the remaining buildings were cleared to make way for new development, which has yet to begin. Only Pump House 1 is still standing, a hollow, roofless structure. “..(they) were used for the maintenance of the exterior of ships hulls, i.e. graving work, which involves primarily removal of rust and barnacles and repainting of the hull.” [Iain McGillivray. 2014] The docks along with the remaining pump house are both Grade-A listed and in a poor state of repair, with structural and cosmetic repair needed. Members of the community in Govan use the site informally, for drinking and socialising. Due to its unique character the site is also visited by photographers.
FLUX: The action or process of flowing or change.
A LANDSCAPE FOR CHANGE
A LANDSCAPE OF CHANGE
This concept was born out of the site itself: -The neighbouring river Clyde and it’s constant tides demonstrate flux. -The nature of the dry docks was one of flux, as they were pumped empty and then filled again. -Flux can be seen in the way that the docks have slowly deteriorated, rust and plant-life breaking down rock-hard stone and iron. -The fate of the site is also in flux. It was once full of life, now still and derelict and in the future will be full of life again.
Flux in the shipbuilding industries meant a decline in the fortunes of Govan and Glasgow, which now are being redeveloped for other industries. Flux connects all things, and as each part of life in the city changes, it in turn influences other spheres which speed up or slow down their own processes of flux. Like the ever-changing tides, as social and development pressures build, it is time again for the docks to bring life to Govan and the City of Glasgow.
Flux not only is description of the current state of the site, but also the landscape concept. The new landscape will be one that plays with ideas of flux and change. Site layout and pedestrian movement, planting, and material selection, all seek to show or emphasise flux in various ways.
The current site owners are New City Vision, a housing developer that want to see Govan Graving Docks turned into a dense housing development, but so far planning applications for 800 new homes have been refused. A high-end housing development would be wholly innappropriate given the unique nature of the docks, and would be a terrible loss of riverside space and heritage and could alienate local residents.
Govan docks
Govan
Riv er C
lyd
e
M8
Strategic plan
Glasgow
Govan Graving docks will become a new public park, acting as a catalyst for increased leisure opportunites, skills training and low-priced housing.
Site Development View to Museum of transport
Link from Govan ferry
Year 1 -Structural and aesthetic repair completed. -All graving docks flushed and cleaned. -Tidal zone contoured with dredged silt.
Flux can wake the sleeping structure of the Govan Graving Docks with a new vitality and allow the silent water of dereliction to flow, living, again.
Year 2 -Establishment of dock ecology in docks 1 + 2. -Landscape construction works -Construction of housing and commercial units. -Renovation of Pump house into Cafe and information center.
The Pump house River taxi from Science center
Year 3 -Tree planting and seeding of ‘coastal grassland’ -Water quality checks. -Commercial units open for letting -Dockside space rented to floating restaurants. -Housing put on ‘afforardable’ market. -Dock 3 given to ‘Galgael boatbuilding trust as a work space
Key street corner
The community
GOVAN
% Difference to Glasgow Average
Connections
The docks are part of Govan, a burgh of Glasgow on the south bank of the Clyde. Govan was once well known for shipbuilding with thousands employed in the industry. Since the 1960’s and the closure of many of Glasgow’s docks and shipyards, unemployment and housing became major social problems.
A new approach is needed: a landscape design approach that allows for several functions to co-exist and be integrated, a design that is based on the unique nature and aesthetics of the graving docks and one that will integrate ecology, the needs of the local community and the general public.
-Site opened to public.
Key Views Tidal zone
View of Glasgow tower
Year 5 -Local watersports and biking events held in docks. -Grassland reaching maturity -Wader birds seen in tidal zone
Key focal points in site
Current regeneration seeks to address these problems and includes investment in housing, public space and connectivity, with a focus on Govan Cross, the historic heart of the community.
Activation of urban edges.
Govan has had periods of greatness but is still reeling from the loss of the shipbuilding industry. Govan is:
A landscape for activity
Tidal marks on the dock gates at the Govan Graving Docks
Year 10 -Trees reaching maturity -Employment and tourism benefitting Govan and Glasgow.
Activation of dock edge.
“It’s ‘Blawin a hoolie’”
“a place and community in a crushing spiral of decline; a poverty statistic; the butt of Rab C jokes; an undesirable stereotype; a resilient and spirited community; a historic place with unique and desirable assets; a place and people with potential to regenerate.” (Get Into Govan. 2016)
Masterplan
Ecological design strategy COASTAL GRASSLAND The designed vegetation seeks to show a shift from the ‘hard’ character of the working docks to a softer character that evokes the West and Northern coasts of Scotland. Imported soils will be specified as ‘sandy loam’ with minimum 45% fine-medium sand in the sand content. The pH level should be around 7-8 and soil depth kept to a maximum of 100mm, except for areas of tree planting where it will be 300mm and with a pH of 5-6.
+2m
View point +4m
Context
Govan Parish Church
Yorkhill park
Tidal zone
Festival Park
-2m
VEGETATED SURFACE
0m 10m
-1m
+2m
Coastal grassland ecology. +2m
Changing rooms
+0m Although not comprehensive, this gives a good indication of the main attractions near the site.
TIDAL MUD
+5m
The fitting out basin to the west will become a tidal zone, with a change in level allowing siltation of the basin and natural developent of a mud habitat. To speed up the process, mud from the periodic dredging of the Clyde will be used initially.
Ind
oor
+1.5m swi m
min
Storage sheds
g po
ol me
rcia l
ts
+5m
ing
Undeveloped land
Lido
uni
Par k
RECENT DEVELOPMENT
+1m
Hotels
Museum of Transport
Film City
Glasgow Science Center BBC
SECC
Hydro Arena
Material pallete
Key
+7m Pinus sylvestris
Shops and food
Water aeration features
Light industrial Populus tremula
Heavy industrial Civic/Community buildings.
Coastal grassland ecology
Offices
Govan Subway Ibrox Subway
TRANSPORT Main Pedestrian Routes Govan Ferry Main bus routes Subway Road Network Rail test track Get into Govan (2011) Govan Cross. Get into Govan. [Online] Available at: http://www.getintogovan.com/about [Accessed 05/02/2016]
McGillivray, I. (2014) Govan Graving Docks Heritage Park: A conceptual proposal for the redevelopment of Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow as a shipbuilding and maritime heritage park. Glasgow: McGillivray, I
Taxi dock
River taxi
The chosen materials will also show a shift from the hard language of the working dock, to a softer language of change.
Residential
Hotels
+2m
Kayaking
Bike park
LAND USE Govan Cross
+1m
+3.5m
Com
Civic/Community buildings. Offices
River Clyde
B Pump house cafe
Tidal bridge
TWEET MAP
100m
Floating restaurants
+2m
-0.5m
50m
Naturally surfaced granite and use of existing Whinstone setts
Weathering steel
Boatbuilding and repair works
Water quality management is about ensuring a clean and safe environment for water-based leisure activities. Improving water-quality will be approached from an ecological angle, using proven techniques from the Liverpool docks: 1. Using artificial vertical water mixing to prevent stratification 2. Using artifically and naturally settled filter-feeding communities, and work with a local ecologist to determine the exact species required. 3. Maintaining a ‘natural’ disturbance regime by opening dock gates and ‘flushing’ the docks with water from the clyde.
Bike park A
+1m
Co
mm
erc
ial
+1m
un
its
-10m
+2m
Kayaking
+7m
Larch and Iroko
Water quality management strategy
+2m
Steps to dock
Swimming
MTB and BMX bike park
Housing
Pump house cafe and information center
Allotments
Co
mm
erc
ial
un
its
Boatbuilding and repair works
Seating pits
+2m
Glasgow tower +2m
+7m +2m Prince’s dock
Mussels and acorn barnacles
Adrian Scott ID: 150134088
Site Condition Dock 1: Lido and Cafe
VEGETATION
Pre-2014 the site was partially covered in Goat willow and Buddleia scrub along with Birch trees. The site vegetation was completely cleared in 2014 by the site owner. At present there is some low quality vegetation, including short perennials and younger examples of Buddleia and Goat willow. Vegetation is opportunistic and not well established.
SOIL The docks are almost entirely a paved surface with soils on site consisting mainly of: -brick rubble from demolition of dock buildings -wood chip mulch from clearance of trees and shrubs -organic matter from yearly cycles of growth and decline over almost three decades.
WATER
Water quality in the docks is poor with high amounts of litter. Being sealed off from the River Clyde for so long means that water is likely to have low oxygen levels and little marine life but it also means that no siltation has occured. Water in the Clyde at this point is brackish and has varying levels of SALINITY depending on depth: -1m = 3.77g/kg -4m=18.83g/kg -9m=20.79g/kg The depth of the River Clyde at the Govan Graving Docks averages about 10m.
STRUCTURE
The main surface of the docks are laid with Whinstone setts which remain in good condition since the day they were put in. The walls and steps of the three dry docks are made from handcarved granite. Bollards are made from cast iron, bridges from a mix of wood, iron, and and steel. The pump house and outer dock walls are constructed using sandstone. The dock gates, outer dock walls and many areas of the dock surface are in need of either structural or cosmetic repair.
LEVELS
+1m
The docks are on the whole very flat with one key level change.
+1m
0m 0m 0m
Dock 3: Boatbuilding and repair works -8.5m -8.4m
-10m
+1m +1m
A
B
Water aeration features
Bike park
Ship-hull light posts
Govan Road
Floating restaurants Pump house cafe
Commercial units
Boatbuilding and repair Kayaking and rowing
Lido
The River Clyde
1:200 @A0
Adrian Scott ID: 150134088