As part of this year’s Festival of Architecture and the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, the nation is being asked to vote for their favourite building from the past 100 years. The list includes two Glasgow banks, the Bon Accord Baths in Aberdeen and Tongland Power Station in Kirkcudbright. Also on the list are a wee concrete bothy in Sutherland (known, ironically, as the Hermit's Castle) and a fashion designer's studio near Galashiels as well as buildings on Bute, Skye, Tiree and Orkney. More prominent architectural gems include the arches at the City Chambers in Glasgow, the Scottish Parliament and Stirling University.
The shortlist of buildings (ten from each decade 1916 – 2015) is on the Festival website (www.foa2016.com/scotstyle) and voting is open now. Scotland’s favourite building will be announced at the Festival’s Finale event in November.
There is a touring exhibition by the same name and an accompanying book (Scotstyle: 100 Years of Scottish Architecture) available, which gives some fascinating insights into architectural trends over the past 100 years alongside the story behind some of Scotland’s most beloved buildings. The book also celebrates the centenary of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) who are curating and managing the Festival of Architecture.
The nationwide touring exhibition will premiere at the Falkirk Wheel then visit venues across the length and breadth of Scotland at venues including; St. Conan’s Kirk on Loch Awe, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, New Lanark Heritage Centre and the Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, with a debate and book signing at the Scottish Parliament during the Festival of Politics in August.
The list was selected from more than 400 nominations put forward by members of the public, with a group of architects, critics and architectural historians whittling it down to 100 properties.
The Festival of Architecture celebrates Scotland’s fantastic built environment and up and coming events include:
The Ideal Hut Show, standard garden sheds which have been transformed by leading architects and designers (Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens until 30 May, Glasgow Botanic Gardens 3 – 26 June)
Out of Their Heads, Peer inside the minds of Scotland’s greatest ever architects, by admiring their portraits and encountering recreations of their most iconic designs. (National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh 11 June 2016 – 5 February 2017)
Go to: www.foa2016.com to keep up to date with the hundreds of events taking place across Scotland
Look out for a Reader Offer for ‘Scotstyle: 100 years of Scottish Architecture’ exclusively for Herald readers, coming soon
For more on the Scotstyle Festival of Architecture please visit
1916
Rosyth Garden City
Queensferry Road, Fife
Greig & Fairbairn and AH Mottram
Construction of the Rosyth Naval Dockyard began in 1909 with over a thousand men employed. Permanent accommodation was required for dockyard workers. The Scottish National Housing Company was formed to build Rosyth Garden Village. Work began in 1915, and the first house was occupied by May 1916. A pleasant garden suburb was created with tree-lined crescents and avenues surrounding a central park. The ‘New Town’ of Rosyth heralded the way for much of Scotland’s public housing in the twentieth century.
1916
Suffolk Road Halls of Residence
Newington, Edinburgh
Alan K Robertson
The East Suffolk Road Halls were the first student halls of residence in Scotland built exclusively for women. The original intention was to have seven hostels, but only three were completed in the first phase – Buchanan, Playfair and Balfour Halls. The buildings are reminiscent of Robert Lorimer, having an Arts and Crafts air, all satisfyingly grouped around a large lawn. The elevations comprise advanced gabled porches, bow windows and many small-paned windows.
1920
Dutch Village, Craigtoun Park
St Andrews, Fife
Paul Waterhouse
The fairytale Dutch Village is built on a small island in an ornamental lake. Viewed from a distance it is reminiscent of the chateaux in the Loire Valley where the buildings are reflected in the water. However, there the similarity ends as the buildings in the Dutch Village are white harled with red pantiled roofs, enclosed and linked together by perimeter walls and a columned loggia. Close by is a grotto and a series of three cascades.
1922
Cour House
Mull of Kintyre, Argyll
Oliver Hill
The greatest achievement at Cour is how the building nestles into its site and appears to rise out of the ground. The entrance front is relatively low and belies the fact that at the rear the landscape steps down towards the sea. The plan is essentially ‘L’-shaped with beehive-roofed towers, the whole composition crowned by a series of massive roofs. Stylistically, Cour is a conundrum – it looks both to history and the future. However, it is relaxed and romantic in a wonderful setting.
1923
Zoology Building, University of Glasgow
University Avenue, Glasgow
Sir John James Burnet with Norman A Dick
The scale of this building belies its size as the various elements are broken up and cannot be readily viewed together. The entrance elevation is small but monumental: it has Baroque details with much use of channelled ashlar; a broken pediment surmounts the doorway. To the left of the entrance is a blank wall forming the rear of the lecture theatre with a tall, decorative louvred cupola ventilator above.
1923
Arches and Extension, City Chambers
John Street, Glasgow
Watson, Salmond and Gray
The eastern extension to Glasgow’s City Chambers was the subject of an open competition. The winning design comprised a block of four storeys with basement and attic whose principal elevation to Cochrane Street is of ten bays. The extension is linked to William Young’s City Chambers by a pair of supremely elegant, French Renaissance-inspired, arches. Tall central arches are flanked by smaller pedestrian arches on either side. They create an elegant connection between the original building and its successor.
1924
McLaren Warehouse
George Square, Glasgow
James Miller
Perthshire-born Miller was one of the most successful Scottish architects of all time. Although strongly influenced by North American architecture he never travelled there. By the end of the First World War, Miller was approaching sixty, but producing a confident urban neo-baroque style. This building is seven storeys with basement, the steel frame clad in pale sandstone. There are only five bays to George Square, half the intended length. Had it been completed, this would have been an inter-war classic.
1924
Bandstand and Amphitheatre
Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow
Glasgow Corporation Parks Department
This bandstand, opened in 1924, is one of only three in Scotland with an amphitheatre. At the height of its popularity there was seating for 3,000 and standing room for 7,000. It occupies a picturesque location immediately adjacent to the Kelvin, the oval amphitheatre making use of the natural slope of the land. Brick-built with whitewashed render and half-timbering, the building has a red brick base and window dressings, and corniced string course. The stage is framed by tapered Ionic columns.
1924
Winter Gardens Pavilion
Victoria Street, Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Alexander Stephen and Walter MacFarlane & Co
In late Victorian times an octagonal bandstand stood on Rothesay esplanade gardens. When the development of the Winter Gardens commenced, it was incorporated into the new building as its stage. With a nod to the nearby castle, a circular plan form was adopted. A 25-metre diameter glass dome half envelops the bandstand supported on radial steel ribs culminating in a central boss. Excellent detail abounds. It is an exciting example of seaside architectural flamboyance.
1925
War Memorial and Cowdray Hall
Schoolhill, Aberdeen
A Marshall Mackenzie and AGR Mackenzie
A particularly fine example of neoclassical work of the period, the war memorial comprises a restrained concave quadrant. Creating the curve is a colonnade of six tall Corinthian columns silhouetted against an inscribed wall under a heavy entablature – all in severe grey granite to underline the solemn purpose of the memorial. Sitting within the quadrant, flanked by steps, is a massive dignified lion sculpture. Inside, and largely unseen by the public, is a beautiful, octagonal, marble-clad hall of remembrance filled with light.
For more on the Scotstyle Festival of Architecture please visit
Photography Credits:
1916-1925
01 - Rosyth Garden City © Grant Bulloch
02 - Suffolk Road Halls of Residence © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk
03 - Dutch Village © Jamie Howden
04 - Cour House © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk
05 - Zoology Building, University of Glasgow © Jean O’Reilly
06 - Arches and Extension, City Chambers © Jon Jardine
07 - McLaren Warehouse © Jon Jardine
08 - Bandstand and Amphitheatre © Andrew Lee
09 - Winter Gardens Pavilion © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk
10 - War Memorial and Cowdrey Hall © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk
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