On the way back from church, my Cameroonian friend and I noticed a strange smell as we approached Springburn.
"Look, it's gone!" he exclaims as Red Road comes into view.
Though this particular block of flats was empty when we arrived in Glasgow almost four years ago, it remained a major feature of our local skyline. The tower block was a true monstrosity: a 30-storey "triple block". When it was built in the mid-60s, it was one of the tallest buildings in Europe. It was an amazing piece of architecture. Not that it was a beautiful building, but the sheer size and breadth was truly astounding. I can't imagine the first impressions of the refugees housed in Red Road, for many, it was their first experience of life in Scotland. I remember one Iraqi girl assuring me, "You know in Iraq, we live in houses and we have gardens, not like Scotland where everybody lives in big blocks like this!" Red Road was her frame of reference for what this country is like.
The building was full of asbestos, so preparing for the demolition was a long process. In the years when 153-213 Petershill Drive was readied for the explosives, it slowly turned into a shell before our eyes. It was once solid, but for the past year we could see straight through its centre. It was odd looking at it once the siding came down. Though the flats were gutted, there were still signs that this building used to be 'home' to many, in particular the still decorated walls: posters of football teams, the pink paint and teddy bears for a baby's room...
Many of the people I've spoken to have mixed emotions about the demolition. 152-213 was the first block to go and it won't be the last. The last building is to be demolished by 2017. It marks the end of an era and a philosophy of social housing. There is hope and fear for the future of the area. While there is recognition that Red Road has slipped into decline and there are real problems, it remains a community where people have put down roots.
The Telegraph posted a good video of the demolition:
