The Project

This is a refurbishment project with particular emphasis on the use of recycled materials. The Glad Café is in the Southside of Glasgow and is comprised of two main spaces: a café serving freshly prepared seasonal food; and a venue to be used for a variety of events including music, exhibitions, film and poetry readings. The Glad Café is a social enterprise.

The premises, originally built as a single storey bakery, is attached to one of the first tenements to be built using a structural steel-frame. The property shell was in good condition. The space had previously been a snooker hall and then a restaurant. This space was partitioned into two rooms – the café and the performance area. The new performance space was acoustically separated to minimise any disturbance caused to the adjoining neighbours. Two existing boarded up windows were opened up, transforming the café into a warm and welcoming space.

Use of Timber

All existing timber flooring was uplifted, treated off site and reused for fixed furniture and floor coverings. Some timber floor coverings were salvaged from a local gym and court markings are still visible. The timber balustrades, shelving and venue bar are made up of various thicknesses of plywood and plastic off cuts supplied by local furniture designers. All furniture is second hand and was gifted to the project by locals. The existing heating and ventilation system was upgraded and tailored to suit the new café layout.