Elderpark Creative Hub + Food Hub

Govan’s urban form has long been shaped by its tenement housing, built in the late 19th century and retained through the city’s expansion in the mid-20th century. These buildings became the focus of significant regeneration following the Housing (Scotland) Act 1974, which enabled the creation of community-based housing associations to address overcrowding and poor living conditions. Elderpark Housing Association (EHA), established during this period, refurbished a majority of local tenements and went on to deliver over 1,200 homes for social rent across Greater Govan.

Despite sustained investment, including the £90m Central Govan Action Plan (2006–2016), the area continued to experience multiple deprivation, alongside a lack of accessible workspace and community infrastructure to support local economic activity. In response, EHA identified the need to diversify its role beyond housing provision and explore new models for social and economic development.

From early 2020, we worked with EHA to test the feasibility of a creative hub as part of a wider organisational strategy. This centred on the adaptive reuse of vacant assets, including EHA’s former headquarters at 31 Garmouth Street, a ground floor maintenance office, and a 1970s prefabricated community centre. Previous studies had confirmed that these properties were not suitable for conversion to housing, creating a risk of long-term vacancy or loss.

Our work established a viable alternative: repurposing these assets to deliver affordable workspace and support the growth of the local creative economy. The feasibility study positioned employment as an anchor, with creative industries acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration. The proposals responded to strong demand for flexible studios and co-working space in Glasgow, particularly for early-stage practitioners and graduates, while addressing gaps in provision outside the city centre.

We developed a spatial and design strategy for a modest, adaptable creative hub, combining studio space, shared facilities and community-facing uses within a coherent site. The approach balanced ambition with deliverability, proposing phased reuse and flexible layouts to respond to changing needs over time. The resulting vision demonstrated how underused assets could be reactivated to support a diverse and resilient local economy.

In parallel, we developed proposals for the Elderpark Food Hub, transforming a former picture framer’s shop into a community food pantry and multi-use facility. The project reconfigured the existing two-room layout to create a more accessible and welcoming environment, incorporating space for affordable food provision, training and education, and informal working.

The design prioritised flexibility and long-term usability. Foldable furniture and bespoke joinery enabled the space to accommodate a range of activities, from food distribution to workshops and community meetings. A phased delivery strategy allowed EHA to begin operating from the space early, while continuing to upgrade the environment as funding and capacity allowed.

Together, these projects tested how small-scale, place-based interventions could extend the role of a housing association, using existing assets to deliver social value, support local enterprise, and strengthen community infrastructure in Govan.