The first of eight towers of the controversial Scottish housing project Red Road Block was demolished Monday in an effort to destroy the buildings' hazardous conditions. The city is in the process of considering plans to redevelop the area once the remaining towers come down.

The towers were built to provide affordable housing to the low-income population, but, like many public housing projects, soon became symbols of disrepair, poverty and crime.

"In a response to the post-war housing crisis, the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) flats were constructed between 1964 and 1969 in an effort to provide the ultimate modern community for almost 5,000 residents," ArchDaily reported.

Reaching 89 meters (292 feet), they were purportedly the tallest residential buildings in Europe at the time of their construction.

Due to concerns regarding un-removable asbestos in the buildings, the city closed the projects and scheduled their destruction. Explosives were used to bring down the upper floors of the first building. The lowest stories will be demolished using machines.

Find a list of the current tallest residential buildings in Europe here.

Follow coverage of the demolition of similar housing project, Chicago's Cabrini Green, here.

Watch a video of the demolition below.