Chris Leslie is a documentary photographer and filmmaker who travels across the world documenting a range of social and healthcare issues. He is currently concentrating on The Glasgow Renaissance which tells stories of regeneration throughout Glasgow. Here is the second of three articles Chris has written for Central Station to further explain his project.

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PART THREE
The Gallowgate Twins: Endgame

By the end of August the last tenants of the Whitevale and Bluevale flats (The Gallowgate twin towers) will be moved out and the buildings closed for good.

Whitevale and Bluevale Flats – AKA – The Gallowgate Twins

I have been photographing the interiors and exteriors of the flats for the past few years and in the past few weeks I have been interviewing former and current residents to build a historical and visual record of life in the towers.

29/3 Bluevale

Billy – resident for 10 years on the 29th Floor

When D Day approached for the end of these flats I expected there would be some kind of formal documentation, just as there was in Red Road. But no-one, neither Glasgow City Council nor Glasgow Life / Glasgow Museums seems to be too bothered about these flats. Most people, it seems are happy to see the back of them.

Billy – resident for 10 years on the 29th Floor

Whitevale Camera Obscura – Setting sun hits the metal sheeting around the foyer of the Whitevale Flat creates a repeated camera obscura (the outside skyline reflected inside upside down)

But Glasgow’s Twin towers will hang on stubbornly for the next few years and contrary to popular belief they will not be demolished in time for the Commonwealth Games. It will take years to prepare the buildings and even then, no-one is quite sure how they will brought down. There will be no explosives or giant picking crane – they are surrounded by occupied lower flats and the proximity to the trainline is scarily close. These buildings were built to last and demolition experts are scratching their heads wondering how and when they can bring them down.

Photo montage of Former resident Tony and his younger brother on the balcony 1977 / 2013

One of the 5 remaining tenants waits for the lift outside his flat. He hopes to be rehoused by the end of the month.

Expect them to be turned into giant advertising beacons for the Games. Maybe they will be turned into a giant light installation with shining Hollywood style lights, welcoming visitors to the East End and the Commonwealth Games. But knowing Glasgow City Council and current budget restrictions, a big vinyl banner dropped from both flats will suffice.

I will have a short multimedia film complete on the Gallowgate Twin Towers in the next few weeks. Stay tuned and sign up at https://www.facebook.com/TheGlasgowRenaissance.

More: Website | Chris Leslie | Vimeo | Twitter

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Take a look at Part One of Chris Leslie’s Glasgow Renaissance here & Part Two here.