Filing Cabinet Building Wins Design Award

A controversial city centre housing development has won a prestigious honour at this year's Saltire Society Awards.

The multi-million pound Icon Building in Maxwell Street was awarded the Housing Design Award at a ceremony last night in the Lighthouse.

The building, on the banks of the Clyde, was designed by top architects Elder and Cannon who were responsible for the Clavius building also in Glasgow.

But its ultra-modern design, sited next to the historic St Andrew's Cathedral, has raised some eyebrows and the building has even been likened to a "filing cabinet".

The 13-storey Icon was seen as a step forward in the regeneration of the Clyde. It houses a total of 52 flats worth up to £250,000.

Queen Elizabeth Square in the Gorbals - another building by Elder and Cannon - also won a commendation last night.

Glasgow design guru Neil Baxter said: "I regard Elder and Cannon as brilliant architects. They recently won the £25,000 Doolan prize for their Clavius building at St Aloysius school.

"I'm delighted that their work has been recognised by the Saltire Society, although the Icon is not one of my favourite Elder & Cannon buildings.
"It is not a building you would miss, but it has a bit too much of the filing cabinet look about it for my liking."

Last year the £6.6million Garrion Bridge, which provides acc