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Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Book shows incredible new images of Glasgow from above
Architect Rosalie Menon and photographer Alistair Leith have documented Glasgow's urban transformation since the year 2000 in their book, Glasgow From Above. The 250-page book is filled with drone imagery and architectural commentary, providing a fresh viewpoint on the city's evolution juxtaposed with its Victorian roots and post-industrial legacy. Alistair Leith and Rosalie Menon (Image: Alistair Leith) Ms Menon and Mr Leith, who both grew up in Glasgow and reconnected in 2024, used drone photography to capture the city centre and 20 surrounding neighbourhoods. Ms Menon, a senior academic at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, said: "From an aerial perspective, you begin to understand the city's patterns—its connections, its growth, and its complexity. Read more: Celtic legend and Lisbon Lion tragically dies Bomb squad called as busy bridge closed after 'explosive' found Andrew Cavenagh sets out Rangers 10-year vision at takeover EGM "Collaborating with Alistair has been a way to reframe familiar places and highlight the value of documenting our built environment in a time of change." Mr Leith has worked within Glasgow's construction industry for almost 30 years. Glasgow From Above (Image: Alistair Leith) Ms Menon's previous book, Fragments of Glasgow (2021), focused on lesser-seen spaces within the city. Both of her publications aim to document the city's architecture from both ground-level and aerial viewpoints. To commemorate the book's release, a series of events and talks will be held across Glasgow. Glasgow at night (Image: Alistair Leith) These include a talk at the New Glasgow Society on September 24 and another at the Byres Road Book Festival on September 28. At these events, Ms Menon will share insights from her new book. Glasgow From Above will be available in independent bookshops across Glasgow and at Waterstone's from July 28. It is also available to order on Amazon.
The Herald Scotland
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The new book capturing Glasgow's 21st century transformation
New book Glasgow From Above explores the key events, campaigns, major investments and regeneration projects that have propelled the changes that have unfolded across the city over the last 25 years. Read more: New cultural venues, office blocks, university buildings, schools, hospitals and bridges which have been created since the millennium are featured in the book, which will be officially published on July 28. Photographer Alistair Leith and Rosalie Menon, an architect and academic, have collaborated on the book, which has been published to coincide with the 850th anniversary of Glasgow's being granted 'burgh status.' The transformation of Glasgow since the turn of the century is celebrated in a new photography book. (Image: Alistair Leith) Mr Leith, who has worked in the construction industry for nearly 30 years, took to numerous vantage points around the city - including new buildings taking shape - and deployed drone photography to capture the images in the 250-page book. Ms Menon, who teaches at the Mackintosh School of Architecture at Glasgow School of Art, had previously published Fragments of Glasgow, a book exploring the city's architectural heritage, which focused mainly on Victorian-era buildings. She told The Herald: 'I wanted to follow that up with another book capturing a more holistic view of Glasgow as a 21st century city as it has changed dramatically over the last 25 years. "There has been a lot of investment in the re-use of historic buildings and a lot of new-build developments, particularly over the last decade. The new photography book Glasgow From Above explores the modern-day transformation of Glasgow. (Image: Alistair Leith) 'I thought the best way to capture that would be with aerial photography. I follow quite a few drone photographers on Instagram, which is where I came across Alistair. 'I could see from the images that he was posting that he was involved in the construction industry. "I initially thought that I would buy some of his photographs, but then realised it would work quite well as a creative collaboration because he could provide quite a lot of insight into the new-build market in Glasgow.' The new Sighthill Bridge over the M8 motorway is featured in the book Glasgow From Above. (Image: Alistair Leith) Mr Leith, a licensed drone operator in Glasgow, said: "The city has changed massively over the last 25 years. "I've been very lucky to have been involved with quite a few big projects, like Buchanan Wharf, Candleriggs and Central Quay. I feel a very personal connection to the buildings I've been involved with myself.' 'I absolutely love working in the construction industry. I know about most of the new buildings that have gone up in Glasgow, who built them and the architects who worked on them." The book traces the origins of the city's 21st century transformation back to the early 1980s, when the city was still suffering from the decline of traditional industries like shipbuilding and engineering, but decided to mount a 'Glasgow's Miles Better' marketing campaign which gained worldwide recognition. Key moments in the run-up to the millennium highlighted include the staging of the Glasgow Garden Festival on the south bank of the River Clyde in 1988, Glasgow's year-long spell in the limelight in 1990 as the UK's first European Capital of Culture, and its designation as the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999. Alistair Leith and Rosalie Menon worked together on the book. (Image: Supplied) The book credits the city's Scotland With Style campaign, which was unveiled in 2004, and its successor, People Make Glasgow, launched nine years later, with helping to change Glasgow's image since the turn of the century. The impact of Glasgow's designation as a UNESCO City of Music in 2008, the opening of the Hydro arena in 2013, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid pandemic, which forced the city into lockdown into 2020, are all highlighted. Writing in the book, Ms Menon says: 'The completion of the first quarter of the 21st century seems a good point to take stock of Glasgow and reflect upon the significant sociopolitical events in the last 25 years which have impacted the city and its investments. 'Having decisively moved away from its industrial and manufacturing roots, Glasgow rebranded itself as a city open to investment and innovation. The 21st century transformation of Glasgow is explored. (Image: Alistair Leith) 'Key sectors such as media, the creative industries and higher education were central to this strategic repositioning. 'One of the city's primary objectives became the repopulation of its urban core. With that came a notable rise in social and cultural diversity, reinforcing Glasgow's identity as a modern, inclusive city. 'Many of the city's disused industrial buildings found new life as galleries, studios and performance spaces, symbolising the broader cultural regeneration taking place.' The changes in the Candleriggs area are explored. (Image: Alistair Leith) Glasgow From Above examines the impact of new developments in the Gorbals, Sighthill, Maryhill, Laurieston and Govan, the transformation of the Merchant City, Charing Cross, Candleriggs, the Broomielaw and Finnieston, and debates over the future of Sauchiehall Street and the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre. Also featured are the conversion of religious buildings into cultural venues like Cottiers and Oran Mor, new bridges connecting Finnieston with Govan, Partick with Govan, and Sighthill with the centre, and new office developments for the likes of Barclays, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. The book explores the key role played by the city's universities and colleges in shaping 21st century Glasgow, including the evolution of a 'knowledge quarter' near Glasgow Cathedral and George Square. The Hydro and the Armadillo are among the venues featured. (Image: Alistair Leith) Ms Menon writes: 'New biomedical and technological research centres, alongside a growing ecosystem of university spin-outs – particularly from Strathclyde and Glasgow universities – have helped establish Glasgow as a leading player in the knowledge economy. 'The expansion of the higher education sector has brought profound changes to Glasgow's social dynamics, most notably through the influx of a large international student population. To accommodate this growth, institutions invested heavily in new research centres, teaching facilities and infrastructure – contributions that not only supported academic excellence but also injected substantial capital into the local economy. 'Accompanying this academic expansion was a rapid surge in demand for student accommodation. The city's skyline has been increasingly defined by high-density, purpose-built student housing developments, which have become a hallmark of 21st century Glasgow.' Glasgow's transformation is celebrated in the new book. (Image: Alistair Leith) The book, which features images of vast construction sites, describes Glasgow as 'a city in flux' and constantly evolving 'heal the scars of its post-industrial past.' Ms Menon said: 'We talk in the book about Glasgow being a 'work in progress and the phrase that got banded about for many years, that Glasgow would be 'great when it is finished.' That is still applicable to elements of the city. 'There is a lot of criticism of Glasgow at the moment, especially around Sauchiehall Street. 'It marketed itself for a long time as a retail destination, but the retail sector was really significantly hit by Covid and the industry going online. 'That has coincided with the Avenues programme in the city centre, which has gone at quite a slow pace and has meant that some people just see disruption. 'One of the aims of the book is to show Glasgow in a new light. 'It doesn't try to be a glossy marketing thing. But I think it really lifts Glasgow, not just in terms of the city centre, but in the way it acknowledges the investment that has gone into residential neighbourhoods like Dalmarnock, Sighthill, Laurieston and the Gorbals. 'One of the key elements of the book is how it looks at the new routes and connections that have recently been created in the city. The drone photography can really identify where these have been made, and how communities and regenerated area are now connected to the city centre.' Read more: Glasgow From Above is optimistic about the impact of a new 'tall building' policy which could see skyscrapers emerge from areas like Charing Cross, Anderston Quay, the Trongate and Cowcaddens. Ms Menon said: 'From an economic point of view, tall buildings have to happen to make a lot of sites work. I would rather see that happening than sites lying empty or derelict for long periods of time. 'It is probably better that they are clustered in particular areas of the city, rather than take an interspersed approach which might potentially block existing vistas or be to the detriment of the skyline. I would generally see them as a positive thing. Mr Leith said: 'Glasgow needs to change. The very worst thing would be to have big, empty gap sites in the city for the next 20 years. It would be an absolute tragedy. 'It wouldn't do Glasgow any good and it wouldn't do the people of Glasgow any good.' It is hoped that the book will persuade Glaswegians to venture into parts of the city they have never previously visited. Ms Menon added: 'I think we tend to live and work in our own little bubbles, and commute using the same routes. 'People may have preconceptions about places, but when they visit they will see that there are hidden gems there.'
