Designer duo praise makeover

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Designer duo praise makeover

Celebrity designers Colin and Justin officially opened a new community facility in Arden – four years after they revamped the area.

The community-based centre, Arden Chill Out, was set up in 2007, when the makeover kings tackled the rundown Glasgow housing estate.

Originally housed in a Portakabin, Arden Chill Out, which offers classes and activities for people of all ages, has gone from strength to strength, and its increasing popularity has led to these larger premises being opened on the area’s Kilmuir Road. One half of the popular television duo, Colin McAllister, said: “When Justin and I were working in Arden, we met a lot of great, community-minded people and we’re glad that we’ve given them that push to continue improving their area. The Chill Out has been a success because of the people who live here. It’s great to see how the centre has empowered the young people.” Refurbishment work on the new premises was carried out by offenders undertaking community service placements with Sacro’s Community Reparation Service, which provides services designed to safeguard communities and reduce offending. Arden Chill Out’s chairwoman, Shirley Duguid, said: “The Cabin could only hold 20 people and we have spent the last few years trying to find bigger premises. Upon gaining tenancy of an old building, we were faced with refurbishing the premises on a tight budget with a handful of volunteers. It would have taken months but due to the fantastic work of Sacro. most of the work was completed within one month. We can never thank them enough.” Colin and Justin On The Estate was a four-part Channel 5 documentary series charting the duo’s work with Glasgow-based Glen Oaks Housing Association. In 2007, the pair worked for more than 10 months to help improve the Arden estate on the South Side of the city. Using very limited budgets, they faced the headache of trying to persuade residents that their bold design ideas would work on the estate.

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