Placemaking
Project Name
Commonwealth Games Village
Sector
Athlete's Accommodation
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Year
2010
Project Team
Abigail Benouaich
William Statton
GM+AD Architects
Role
Concept Development
A contemporary housing proposal for the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village in Glasgow, conceived as a catalyst for long-term urban regeneration. Bounded by the
River Clyde, the project re-engages
a post-industrial landscape shaped
by decades of decline and large-
scale clearance.
The masterplan delivers 704 homes, a 120-bedroom care facility, and generous public open space. Designed to accommodate up to 8,000 athletes during the 2014 Games, the scheme anticipates its legacy, transitioning into a permanent residential neighbourhood.
Systems Architecture
The project operates as a system rather than a fixed solution, translating spatial logic into a repeatable and adaptable framework. A clear organisational structure defines the masterplan, balancing density with permeability and establishing a sequence of streets, courtyards, and open landscapes.
Positioned within an evolving neighbourhood, the building typologies reinforce a legible urban grain while responding to surrounding conditions, creating a structured yet flexible model for long-term growth.
Each unit is conceived as a compact, vertically expressed dwelling, reinterpreting the townhouse as a contemporary urban typology. Repetition and variation work together to form a cohesive yet differentiated streetscape. Private terraces, shared courtyards, and defined thresholds create a layered relationship between public and private space.
The accommodation is designed for dual use, functioning as high-density athlete housing during the Games, and transitioning into permanent homes thereafter.
This flexibility is embedded within the spatial framework, enabling a straightforward post-Games retrofit system.
Townhouse Typology
The architecture is defined by a restrained material palette and a clear structural rhythm. Facades are articulated through a system of recessed openings and layered surfaces, creating depth and variation while maintaining a coherent overall identity.
This approach reinforces both the individuality of each townhouse and the collective presence of the neighbourhood, balancing repetition with subtle differentiation.
A housing framework that balances repetition and variation, shaping a contemporary interpretation of the urban townhouse typology.
Project developed at Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop Architects in Scotland. Selected drawings and diagrams by Abigail Benouaich.
Some renders, plans and schematic elements are based on original project materials.