Streets (or Pie) in the Sky

[jamie allan]

Glasgow has a many high rise social housing blocks - mainly built in the 1960's when planning regulations were relaxed to help slum clearance. Red Road flats were built up to 32 floors and were constructed using materials that are banned today - including asbestos as a fire retardent. They are now in the process of being demolished but it is having to be done meticulously - partly because of the above but also as they are steel framed they cannot be brought down by explosives. I think it was a different architect in Glasgow who penned the 'streets in the sky' phrase.

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Streets (or Pie) in the Sky

This certainly looks like a painstaking demolition of the housing flats.

[jdal]

Re: Streets (or Pie) in the Sky

That's a big job for someone! I guess the scrap steel is worth a few quid, but still a lot of money must be being spent. I like that 2nd shot BTW!

[Floribunda]

Re: Streets (or Pie) in the Sky

I immediately thought of 'Tiny Towers' when I saw this Jamie. People who waste their time like I do playing addictive games will know what I mean!
All nice, but I like the last shot best.

[jamie allan]

Re: Streets (or Pie) in the Sky

That's a big job for someone! I guess the scrap steel is worth a few quid, but still a lot of money must be being spent. I like that 2nd shot BTW!

The company demolishing the blocks set up site in December 2008. No blocks have yet been demolished and the one in pictures 1 and 3 is the furthest forward. I reckon they'll spend, longer demolishing them than they did building them. The external and internal walls were made of asbestos sheet. I sometimes wonder if we'd have been better off keeping the slums that they replaced. At least red sandstone doesn't kill you - unless of course it falls on you.