Chartered Building Surveyor Conservation and Historic Buildings Specialist
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THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND www.ahss.org.uk AHSS Founded in 1956 – Over 50 years of Commitment I Spring 2015 I No. 37 AHSSS Spr15.indd 1 05/03/2015 11:03 Corporate Members Anderson Bell Christie Architects Art Institute of Chicago Benjamin Tindall Architects Edinburgh City Libraries Gray, Marshall & Associates Heritage Masonry (Scot) Ltd LDN Architects National Gallery of Art, Washington Page\Park Architects Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland RIBA Library Simpson & Brown Architects Join us! T Graham & Son (Builders) Ltd Tod & Taylor Architects Scotland has a rich heritage of castles, mansions and garden landscapes, ecclesiastical and industrial sites, cities, towns and villages. This wealth of buildings provides many opportunities for study, but despite being famous throughout the world, our heritage is in constant need of protection. Educational Members The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland is committed to American University of Sharjah encouraging public understanding and appreciation of our built Centre Canadien d’Architecture environment and supports the thoughtful and meaningful preservation Glasgow Life and restoration of historic buildings. Historic Scotland Library National Museums Scotland The New Club Library Support our work and enjoy the many Paul Mellon Centre benefi ts of becoming a member. Robert Gordon University University of Edinburgh, Turn to page 11 for more information. Department of Architecture University of St Andrews AHSSS Spr15.indd 2 04/03/2015 16:56 WELCOME hange is in the air. Not only for argues that the disassembly of the music room’s the AHSS but for many of the organ, designed by Mackintosh, sets a dangerous AHSS organisations, projects and sites precedent for owners who take on properties Spring 2015 l No. 37 reported on in this issue. How do we with ‘inconvenient’ features. Crespond to change, to the shifts in government, Mia Scott discusses her MBA research exploring President the new economic climate and the needs of how building preservation trusts have adapted to Simon Green MA, FSA, FSA Scot communities? And when it comes to planning changes to funding. Her article provides a very Chairman issues how to we move beyond the dichotomies personal and moving insight into the pressures felt Emma Griffiths of support and opposition? by people working in the sector through a series Hon Treasurer Hamish Macbeth Our first of two articles on the Royal High of interviews, and she also looks at what makes School of Edinburgh, by Diane Watters, explores projects and organisations succeed. Editor Abigail Daly the institution’s educational significance, often Our latest in the series of articles exploring Ruskin Lane Consulting eclipsed by the building’s immense architectural conservation approaches in other countries Reviews Editor value. The second article, by Kirsten Carter McKee, looks at Iran, where heritage sites, and the Mark Cousins looks at the site’s landscape setting and the efforts challenges they face, are on a truly epic scale. Design made at the time to ensure that its construction Conflict and earthquakes are the most acute of Pinpoint Scotland Ltd. respected the topography and terrain of Calton these challenges, but the more familiar problems NATIONAL OFFICE Hill. of funding and poor management are there The Architectural Heritage An exciting change for the Society is the too. Shabnam Komai-koma’s article looks at Society of Scotland 15 Rutland Square, relocation of the national office to Rutland Square the connections between Iran’s heritage and Edinburgh, EH1 2BE as a tenant of the RIAS. It seems only appropriate contemporary cultural life and explores how sites T 0131 557 0019 E nationaloffi[email protected] that we look at the history of this wonderful are protected. www.ahss.org.uk building and Jocelyn Cunliffe charts the site’s Technology moves forwards at a dizzying development, owners and uses. speed and the exciting work of the Open Virtual © AHSS and contributors, 2014 The opinions expressed by contributors The AHSS’s previous home at Riddle’s Court Worlds group at the University of St Andrews in this publication are not necessarily is being transformed by the Scottish Historic is the subject of John McCaffery’s article. They those of the AHSS. The Society apologises for any errors or inadvertent Buildings Trust in to the Patrick Geddes Centre. have assembled a multidisciplinary team who use infringements of copyright. The We hear from Audrey Dakin about the latest cutting-edge computer reconstructions to improve Architectural Heritage Society of discoveries and plans, noting recent research that the public’s understanding of the past. The results Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC007554. The Society adds another (surprising) layer of history to the are fascinating, immersive and thoroughly engaging is a registered Company Limited by building. visions of the past that underline an important Guarantee, No. SC356726. Niall Murphy’s feature on Craigie Hall details yet lesson for us all: change can be fun. The AHSS gratefully acknowledges another Mackintosh interior that has been lost. He Abigail Daly assistance from Historic Scotland towards the production costs of the AHSS Magazine. The AHSS gratefully acknowledges assistance from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland with archive image reproduction and towards production costs of the AHSS Magazine. contents 03 Editor’s Welcome 50 Activity Reports 04 View from the Chair 50 Historic Scotland 05 Newsround 53 Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical 13 Forthcoming Events Monuments of Scotland 16 Features 58 Built Environment Forum Scotland 16 Royal High School 59 Scottish Civic Trust 21 Open Virtual Worlds 26 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh 60 Members Area Cover image: Royal High School, Regent Road, 31 Craigie Hall, Dumbreck 60 Activities Edinburgh, from the south- west. This photograph of the 36 Building Preservation Trusts 61 Casework Royal High School was taken in 1895 by the architectural 42 The Patrick Geddes Centre 66 My Favourite Building photographer, Harry Bedford Lemere. SC 683126 © 44 Conservation in Iran – Iain Connelly RCAHMS. Licensor www.rcahms.gov.uk 47 Reviews 67 Programme of Events SPRING 2015 I THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND I 3 AHSSS Spr15.indd 3 04/03/2015 16:56 EDITORIAL VIEW FROM THE CHAIR View from the Chair he view from the Chair has architecture, which will form the basis of changed – we have moved! our next application. Our two incredible office staff, The drastic change in our income Administrator Bridget Mason and will, short term, have an impact on the TAssistant Administrator and Development Society’s ability to operate in the same Officer Sarah Pearce, have been completely way. Hard decisions will have to be taken wonderful, between them arranging and on where the economies axe falls, and working tirelessly in our departure from how to generate more numbers on the Riddle’s Court. The transfer of office income side of the seesaw. The Society equipment, down turnpike stairs and up is however incredibly fortunate in many attic winders was nearly as challenging ways. While the obituaries section makes as rationalising our telecommunications. horribly sombre reading in this issue, it An AHSS office within the RIAS office, is extremely heartening that the work of within the ever more complex world of the Society is sometimes remembered Emma Griffiths broadband, internet phones, dedicated by members in their wills. Raising income National Chairman, AHSS emails and remote access systems. through legacies is an area of increasing Enormous thanks to the membership importance for many small charities, and for patience, and to our amazing staff for we are not exempt. If you would like any their fortitude, happily we seems to have advice on this area, please phone the weathered the worst of the storm now. office, our number remains the same at Our new base in Rowand Anderson’s 0131 557 0019, and if Sarah or Bridget house has already been the handsome and are unable to help, they will refer you or convenient venue for some AHSS events. your enquiry on to our National Treasurer. The launch in the RIAS Council Room of Don’t forget too, your magazine also has the Architectural Heritage XXV Journal membership joining forms – why not give presented a charming opportunity for a gift of membership to someone you the hardworking publications committee know? Or invite a like-minded friend to to meet the authors, contributors and join. Face-to-face interaction and personal many friends and sector colleagues, all of recommendations are the most effective whom gathered of course to pay heartfelt way to recruit the new members we long tribute to John Gifford, whose outstanding to welcome! contribution to Scottish architectural To conclude on a positive note, the history the volume celebrates. National Conservation Committee has The Society has for a number of been incredibly active in the last months. years been extremely fortunate to have A case work conference in March presents some aspects of our work in the study a brilliant opportunity for all of our case and protection of Scottish Architecture workers to gather, allowing them to review supported by Historic Scotland. The and contribute to the latest casework support of Historic Scotland for voluntary guidelines, and share experiences of “the organisations has traditionally been good, the bad and the ugly” of their work granted for three year phases, allowing the commenting on applications for listed organisations some scope for planning and building and conservation area consent. development. Unfortunately this year our The resulting guidelines will be an effective application for support wasn’t successful, campaigning tool, allowing the AHSS to and while there is, at the time of going to share our knowledge, expertise, and work press, some hope of support at a much practice with others.