A Glasgow medical centre by Hoskins Architects provides a benchmark for future primary healthcare in Scotland

Buildings.

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Dapple Photography

Situated in south Glasgow, Eastwood Health & Care Centre by Hoskins Architects houses five GP practices and a range of supplementary clinical services, including podiatry, physiotherapy, adult mental health, and speech therapy. Conceived as a ‘reference design’ for future Scottish primary healthcare centres, the three-storey building is organised around a central atrium, which provides access to all the public services and includes a community cafe.

Buildings.

Departments on the ground and first floor are located adjacent to the atrium, with waiting areas overlooking two external courtyards. The latter are sheltered from traffic and noise, providing ‘outdoor rooms’ for the cafe and physiotherapy suite, as well as a breakout space from the children’s department waiting area. As part of the reference design, a standard size and layout for the clinical rooms was developed, ensuring future flexibility. A centrally located, open-plan staff room and terrace are intended to facilitate informal social interaction, as well as provide a breakout space for the adjacent meeting and conference rooms.

Buildings.

The scheme’s massing increases towards the rear of the site, where it is framed by railway bridges, a sloping bank, and boundary trees. A reduction in scale towards Eastwoodmains Road maximises south light into the courtyards, while a generous roof overhang provides solar shading for the second-floor spaces. Extensive landscaping helps locate the building within its site, defining pedestrian routes and subdividing the parking provision.

Buildings.

Designed to BREEAM Excellent, the U-values for the walls and windows far exceed Building Regulations requirements. Daylighting is maximised throughout, and most of the spaces are naturally ventilated, giving users some control of their environment. Roof-mounted photovoltaic cells provide on-site electricity generation. Covered bike stores and shower/changing facilities are designed to encourage cycling. The site is also well served by public transport, with existing bus and rail services supplemented by the council as part of the development.

Buildings.

The building’s slim-line steel frame and composite concrete slab structure allows services to be distributed within ceiling voids, while minimising the overall height of the scheme. Brick was chosen for the facades to give a sense of civic presence and durability. Timber elements, including soffit panels, window louvres and inset wall cladding, are intended to soften the robust masonry aesthetic. Windows take the form of punched openings with deep reveals and inward opening lights protected by louvred timber shutters. Composite curtain walling, featuring timber back boxes internally and a striking dark finish to the aluminium caps and flashings, is employed in the atrium and key public areas.

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Credits

Architect
Hoskins Architects
Structural engineer
Baker Hicks
Services engineer
Wallace Whittle, TÜV SÜD
Landscape architect
Harrison Steven

Bricks
Taylor Maxwell, Wienerberger
Curtain walling
Senior Architectural Systems, Marshall Brown
Glazing
Saint-Gobain
Drylining
British Gypsum