Gap Homes, Glasgow
Community Classroom, our demountable outdoor classroom kit devised in2019, has yielded several rewarding relationships, not least with charity Barnardo’s, five of whose employment scheme apprentices helped put up the prototype. This led to an invitation from the charity to devise a new temporary ‘gap’ housing typology for young people leaving the care system, which happens between age16-18, and often results in them being placed in unsuitable and unsafe housing or hostels, with no support in the vital transition to self-sufficiency. This is a major factor in nearly 50% of care leavers experiencing homelessness.
Drawing lessons from an initial prototype in Paisley, we worked closely with the charity and held several workshops with young people who would be eligible for these homes, to design the first Gap Homes scheme in Maryhill, North Glasgow. A new typology emerged for safe, welcoming, secure, cost-effective temporary housing that supports both a sense of community but also independent living, with staff on hand, but only to be called upon as and when needed.
The Maryhill Gap Homes cluster features four one-bed homes designed around a shared courtyard space, with a separate two-bed home for staff. Set behind a brick boundary wall, and with simple pitched roofs, they look, from the street, just like any other houses. However, all front doors are accessed off a central courtyard, via a secure but low-key front gate, making safe guarding and passive super vision easy. Each scheme can be adapted to changing sites and contexts, and we are developing an additional new typology of two-bed units.
There are now several schemes in play outside of Glasgow, including Stirling, Fife and Lincoln, thanks to Barnardo’s success in persuading local authorities to unlock small, commercially unviable sites. We are also assisting Barnardo’s with site analysis to ensure Gap Homes are only built in areas with a strong community, good services and transport links.
Client
Barnardo’s
Value
£500,000
Status
Site Start 2023