2016 is the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design in Scotland. In the coming months events and celebrations will be ongoing across Scotland to highlight the nation’s many contributions in technology, science, the arts, and more. A key element in all of this is the Festival of Architecture 2016 – showcasing Scotland’s built environment ranging from its classic 17th century castles to today’s wave of concrete and glass modernism and utilizing such innovative tools as the common garden shed, Lego® bricks, and even music and cake!
Scotland's original architecture was a stone dwelling known as the broch. These were roundhouse buildings found scattered around Atlantic Scotland. They are not know to exist anywhere buy Scotland. There are nearly 600 known broch sites throughout the country.
From Wikipedia: Dun Carloway (Dùn Chàrlabhaigh) is a broch situated in the district of Carloway, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. It is a remarkably well preserved broch - on the east side parts of the old wall still reach to 9 metres tall.
Of course when most people think of Scottish architecture what immediately comes to mind is the classic 17th century castle. Another fine example is the classic "tigh dubh". Gaelic for black house - a low stone house often with thatched roof and most common on the crofts of the Scottish Highlands and islands.
Eilean Donan castle is one of the best known of Scotland's many castles and a fine example of what immediately comes to mind when considering Scottish architecture. (Photo by the author.)
The "tigh dubh" or "black house" is a low set stone building with thatched roof that was common in the Scottish Highlands, the Hebridean islands and Ireland. They are most often associated with crofting (farming)
Architecture is not just the art of designing a building. Architecture can take other forms, like bridges. travel around Scotland and one will see a wide variety of architectural styles. The real art of architecture also takes into account the spaces "between" the buildings.
One of Scotland's best known bits of architecture is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a 21-arch railrway bridge built of mass concrete by Robert McAlpine and Sons in 1898.
Ardverikie Estate, known to million of fans around the world as "Glenbogle" from the TV production "Monarch of the Glen" is a fine example of Scottish Baronial style architecture. (Photo by the author)
Great architecture contributes to an overall quality of life by considering the total living environment - the spaces between the buildings - exemplified beautifully in Scotland by Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens.
The Festival of Architecture 2016 is orchestrated by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland to mark its centennary. Founded in 1916 at the behest of architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, the RIAS seeks to foster fellowship and an open exchange of ideas among its some 5,000 members across Scotland.
CEO of the RIAS (and guest on this episode) is Neil Baxter. A research historian with a specialty in architecture, indeed you might say he bleeds brick and mortar – both his brother and brother-in-law are architects, his late father was an architectural model maker, even his sister works in the industry in the realm of professional development and education. Baxter has worked steadily on this festival of architecture since talking the reigns of the RIAS in 2008
This Festival of Architecture offers a wide ranging program of events thanks to partnerships with many other organizations. Programs like the celebration of Scot style – building the century, honoring Scotland’s top 100 buildings of the RIAS centenary as voted by the Scottish people – Adventures in Space, exploring the architecture of Science fiction – the Ideal Hut Show, using the humble garden shed as a tool for innovative architecture – and there’s children’s educational programs featuring Lego® bricks, and even musical compositions inspired by architecture – and much, more.
Edinburgh is rich in a variety of architectural styles. Here is a row of townhomes with their accompanying ground floor shops...
Often in Edinburgh you can see examples of classic architecture sitting next to an example of concrete and glass modernist architecture.
In Glasgow the "Armadillo" and the "SSE Hydro" are shining examples of creative design in architecture, yet neither made the RIAS' "Building the Century" list of the top 100 buildings in Scotland!
Architecture is estimated to account for 12-18% of Scotland’s GDP of more than 240 billion dollars and yet we don’t often think of as we go about our daily lives, but it is all around us. The Festival of Architecture 2016 hopes to engage the public and help them to interact with architecture, to realize it is not remote from them, but is a contributor to the very fabric and quality of their lives.
•Festival of Architecture 2016 (website)
•Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (website)
•Year of Innovation, Architecture, and Design 2016 (website)
•Sir Robert Rowand Anderson (founder of RIAS)