Platform at Central Quay in Glasgow, the tallest newbuild residential tower in the city for several decades, is redefining riverside living on the banks of the River Clyde. This ambitious city-centre project brings together heritage, scale, and modern design to reflect Glasgow’s vision for waterfront regeneration.
Spanning 34,000 sqm, the mixed-use development comprises office space, hotel, retail units, and 498 residential apartments across four blocks, all connected by a central podium landscape courtyard. Residents enjoy first-class facilities, including lounges, games rooms, a gym, cinema, co-working spaces, private dining areas, a residents’ bar, roof terraces, and a landscaped amenity deck above secure parking. Apartments are available for private sale or buy-to-rent, appealing to a wide demographic.
Forterra Belgravia Gault Blend: Beauty Meets Compliance
Material selection was crucial for this high-profile waterfront development. Forterra’s Belgravia Gault Blend, part of the sustainable Ecostock range, was chosen for its combination of aesthetic appeal, structural performance, and regulatory compliance. Manufactured at Forterra’s state-of-the-art factory in Measham, Leicestershire, Ecostock bricks blend high-quality craftsmanship with sustainability and efficiency. For Central Quay, the stock thrown option, offering a traditional handmade appearance, was selected for its texture, tone, and visual variation.
These bricks provide the strength and durability required for load-bearing walls in a multi-storey development, performing reliably in Glasgow’s wet climate while meeting UK standards for exterior clay bricks. Their thermal properties also support energy-efficient construction, with additional wall insulation incorporated where needed to satisfy modern building regulations. The light-textured buff tone, combined with colour-coded mortar joints, enhances visual appeal while adhering to regulatory guidance on façade detailing, ensuring both resilience and longevity in this exposed waterfront location.
Design, Detailing, and Context
The brickwork follows a simple grid design, enhancing the facades’ scale and articulation while complementing other materials like white GRC, gold and anthracite metal cladding, and curtain wall glazing. The detailing is robust enough to withstand harsh waterfront conditions, satisfying compliance requirements for weather resistance, durability, and structural integrity.
High-quality external landscaping, including natural stone paving along the quay frontage and precise brick detailing, integrates the development into Glasgow’s Financial Services District, respecting planning and urban design regulations while providing a premium streetscape.
Platform at Central Quay demonstrates how careful material selection, performance-focused design, and adherence to regulations can create a development that is both striking and compliant. Forterra’s Belgravia Gault Blend clay bricks provide the perfect balance of texture, tone, durability, and regulatory assurance, helping to shape Glasgow’s newest riverside icon.
Brick Bulletin | Feature 272
