Holmlea Primary School
Holmlea Primary School, established in 1908 in Cathcart, Glasgow, closed in 2005 and fell into disrepair. After being acquired by Home Group, the school was transformed into residential apartments.
TGP Landscape Architects were appointed to redesign the external areas, collaborating with Anderson Bell Christie Architects and CCG to create a high-quality outdoor space for residents and enhance the streetscape.
The landscape design features raised lawns, formal north-south footpaths, and planting beds. These elements accommodate the site’s gentle slope, offering level surfaces, informal seating, and visual interest. Retaining walls, made from red ashlar salvaged from the demolished sports hall, and other repurposed materials, such as embedded benches, a monolith at the entrance, site signage, and a sundial, contribute to the design.
In terms of planting, the strategy was to retain all existing trees of significant value, primarily flowering cherry trees located in peripheral areas. The resulting spaces are designed to be proportional to the scale of the existing school building, extending the building lines into the surrounding environment. In this way, the landscape not only responds to the architecture and historical significance of the school building but also to its ongoing contribution to the surrounding streetscape.
