This is a summary design statement for Colquhoun Square redesign, part of the wider Helensburgh CHORD project.

The purpose of this design statement is to confirm what is intended through the design.  It shows the proposals in comparison to the existing design. 

Take me straight to -

Proposed Design | Planning Grid | Human Scale | Tree & Planting Structure | View Corridors | Reclaiming the Square from the Car | 4-way Vista | Layout Desire Lines | Events Configuration | Example Soft Landscaping

Scottish Government – Designing Places

According to national policy successful places

• have a sense of identity
• create safe and pleasant spaces
• allow easier movement
• have a sense of welcome
• be adaptable
• make good use of resources

The design for new Colquhoun Square addresses each of these points.

The square has been designed in close consultation with stakeholders and has secured planning consent.

Colquhoun Square - Proposed Design Objectives

Pedestrian focused environment with reduced pedestrian / car conflicts

The pedestrian can get to the heart of the space – it will be the only place to get a 4 way vista to celebrate the town grid

Increased pedestrian environment on the sunnier north side of the square

Creates a coherent town square rather than a crossroads dominated by vehicles

Respects the town grid by planning the new square on a grid with symmetrical elements picking up on the surrounding architectural context and maintaining view corridors

Becomes a gathering place for town events and the home of an open air town museum

Colquhoun Square - Proposed Design

Summary of the Key Issues

• Reduces pedestrian and car conflict with reduced north-south traffic links
• Reduces road widths and crossing distances
• Reduces clutter caused by parked cars
• Reduces the amount of space given to the car from 44% of the total to 22%
• Increases pedestrian environments from 27% to 61% of the total area
• Creates a step free environment across the square
• Increases the number of seats and seating opportunities – including over 120m of new linear seating
• Increases bin provision by nearly double
• Increases illumination with nearly twice as many lights
• Increases the number of civic trees and amount of shrub planting in the square
• Increases the quality of finishes with natural stone finishes over 45% of total area
• Creates an adaptable events space which is 11% of the total area

Colquhoun Square - As existing

Colquhoun Square as Proposed - overlaid on existing

Points to note -

• Width of new central space relative to the existing monuments – compare this width with the proposed central open space
• Line of new road alignment relative to existing cross roads
• Reduction in roads width and crossing distances

• Width of new central space relative to the existing monuments – compare this width with the proposed central open space
• Line of new road alignment relative to existing cross roads
• Reduction in roads width and crossing distances

Planning Grid

Points to note;

• Use of planning grid which ties into existing architectural features
• Use of symmetry to respect town grid
• Use of geometry to take up discrepancies in the town grid

Making the Square Human Scale

Points to note;

• The spatial enclosure of the square is very strong
• However the extent of the space if very large and needs modulating to avoid being a vast open space

• The spatial enclosure of the square is very strong
• However the extent of the space if very large and needs modulating to avoid being a vast open space
• Using structure planting the square is modulated into a series of smaller spaces which provide a range of scales and openness

Tree & Planting Structure

Points to note;

• Dispersed planting strategy to provide a green framework for the space
• Creation of pocket spaces between planting to mediate between town / civic and human scale
• Greenery visible from all 4 approaches to the square with street trees linking in to West Princes St.

Points to note;

• Dispersed planting strategy to provide a green framework for the space
• Creation of pocket spaces between planting to mediate between town / civic and human scale
• Greenery visible from all 4 approaches to the square with street trees linking in to West Princes St.
• Green framework augmented by tree planting setting out

View Corridors

Points to note;

• Maintenance of key view corridors across and through the square
• Framing of key views and vista to key buildings on the north side of the square

Reclaiming the Square from the car

Points to note;

• Reducing road widths
• Increasing positive pedestrian environments
• Areas of red hatch new pedestrian environments created from current carriageway locations

The 4-way Vista in Celebration of the Grid

Points to note;

• Reclaiming the zone shown in red from the east west road through the square
• Enabling the pedestrian to safely enjoy the four way vista of the Helensburgh grid; the only location this can be achieved in the town centre

Layout Desire Lines

Existing                                                       Proposed

 Event Configuration

Concert

• 14 x 9m stage, approx. 63 man choir
•  portacabins, sound engineer, food and drink stalls
•  >900 visitors

Farmers Market

36 3x3 stalls

Food Festival

10 6x6m canopies

Ice Rink

• 20 x 10m ice rink
• changing rooms, shoe hire, 12 food stalls

Art Fair

25 x 15m marquee

Example Soft Landscaping Species