Scotland: Building for the Future Transactions For many, an understanding and appreciation Scotland: of post-war architecture would be a novelty. Building for the Future Many others, however, consider that the protection of significant examples should Transactions be a priority. The publication, Scotland: Building for the Future (2009) set the scene for a debate on the contribution of buildings from the period to Scotland’s distinctive character. The ensuing conference held at the Bonar Hall in Dundee on 24 November 2009 widened the debate. Key players ably set the context and clear issues emerged from the ensuing discussion, opening a continuing dialogue to inform the way forward. Scotland: Building for the Future Transactions ISBN: 978 1 84917 040 6 HISTORIC SCOTLAND FRONT COVER Hutchesontown B, Gorbals, perspective sketch of second development area, Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall and Partners, 1958. © RMJM BACK COVER Pier Arts Centre, Stromness. © Gavin Fraser/FOTO-MA H1.575 The House 3/09 Produced from sustainable material Scotland: Building for the Future Transactions Scotland: Building for the Future Transactions Edited by Malcolm Cooper and Deborah Mays HISTORIC SCOTLAND iv | SCOTLAND: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE TRANSACTIONS Acknowledgements The text for this book was edited by Malcolm Cooper, Chief Inspector at Historic Scotland and Deborah Mays, Deputy Chief Inspector, Designations and Archaeology Programmes. The authors and conference speakers, moderator, panel members and conference delegates are all warmly thanked for their contributions. Illustrations for the publication were researched or provided by the authors with assistance from Deborah Mays and Michelle Andersson. Copy and style editing of the panel précis was by Abigail Grater. Illustrations Illustrations unless otherwise stated are supplied by Historic Scotland (www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk) and are covered by © Crown Copyright. SCOTLAND: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE TRANSACTIONS | v Contents Foreword Fiona Hyslop MSP 1 Biographies Speakers and Panel 2 Mike Russell MSP Opening Remarks 9 Raymond Young Towards a New Architecture? Towards a New Society? 15 Neil Baxter The Architectural Profession 27 David Page The Liberating Aspects of Modernism 39 Miles Glendinning Remaking the Future: The Multiple Faces of Post-War Scottish Architecture 49 Deborah Mays Looking at the History of Post-War Listing 61 Malcolm Cooper Future? What Future? 75 Janet McBain Preserving Scotland’s Buildings on Film 85 Diana Murray & Jane Thomas Scotland’s Post-War Architectural Heritage: The national collection at RCAHMS 97 Precis of Panel Discussion 111 End Note Malcolm Cooper 125 Delegates’ Favourite Post-War Buildings 126 Historic Scotland 130 vi | SCOTLAND: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Foreword The scale and nature of We know that the protection rebuilding of Scotland after of our post-war architecture is not 1945 was immense, inspired always popular. We have therefore by a tremendous energy and encouraged Historic Scotland to vision. Every part of Scotland was broaden the debate in Scotland. The affected by the improvements publication in 2009 of Scotland: sought. New styles, new designs Building for the Future, has helped and new materials complemented to start this debate, outlining the the traditional texture of the flavour of the post-war decades nation. And these buildings have and introducing buildings worthy now come of age. of celebration on a national and an international canvas. This book was Historic Scotland, is charged followed by a conference at Dundee’s by Scottish Ministers to identify Bonar Hall on 24 November 2009 Our post-war architecture is a buildings of special architectural or and the launch of the website www. highly important part of Scotland’s historic interest from all periods. celebratingscotlandsarchitecture.org. heritage. It is a subject of interest to They have begun the rigorous The conference was well us all and the overview which unfolds process of selecting the most attended and stimulated a wide in the ensuing pages helps us all outstanding examples from the and interesting debate. It gives me understand this legacy, why it is post-war period to help protect their great pleasure therefore to write the important, and helps guide us in our character through the management foreword for the publication resulting approach to its celebration. of future change. from this conference which includes not only the papers presented but Fiona Hyslop also the wider discussion that took Minister for Culture and place later in the day. External Affairs 2 | SCOTLAND: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE TRANSACTIONS Contributors Biographies Pauline McLean Raymond Young BBC Scotland, Arts and Media Chair, Architecture and Design Correspondent Scotland (A+DS) Pauline has been involved in journalism Raymond Young CBE is an architect from the age of 16 on various local and and a former senior member of staff of national papers. Scottish Homes who is based in rural She was a pop columnist at the Perthshire. He was one of the founder Evening Times in Glasgow and Arts members of ASSIST, the community Editor of The Western Mail in Wales. architecture practice that pioneered Pauline joined BBC Scotland in 1997 as both tenement rehabilitation and the first ever Arts correspondent. community based housing associations Outside of the BBC, Pauline is in Glasgow. He was a member of the UK a volunteer with Sense Scotland, Sustainable Development Commission and involved with the Helen Keller from 2000-2004. International Art Prize. He has worked with both the Born in Glasgow. Pauline was Housing Corporation and Scottish educated at Notre Dame High School, Homes, latterly as Director of Research Dumbarton and St Columba’s High and Innovation. Since 1997 he has run School, Clydebank. She studied English a part-time regeneration consultancy and Scottish Literature at Glasgow with clients in the UK and Denmark University and Journalism Studies at the from a sustainable straw bale office in University of Wales. Perthshire. He is non-executive Director of Historic Scotland, a visiting professor at the Department of Architecture at the University of Strathclyde, and Convenor of the Rural Housing Service. He is currently the Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS). CONTRIBUTORS BIOGRAPHIES | 3 Neil Baxter David Page Miles Glendinning Secretary & Treasurer, Royal Partner, Director, Scottish Centre for Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Page and Park Architects Conservation Studies and Reader in Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art Neil Baxter’s role as Secretary and David Page has always held an Treasurer of the RIAS covers policy, admiration for architecture of post-war Dr Glendinning has published member services, events, publications, Scotland. He sees their architectural extensively on the history of 20th CPD, outreach, education and awards. practice as continuing the long line of century architecture and housing, From 1988 until 2007, Neil was development, that aspires to create a and Scottish housing: books include principal of his own architectural, design modern democratic and accessible built the award winning Tower Block and interpretation consultancy. From environment for working and social life. (with Stefan Muthesius), A History of 2004 he was also Development Director of Scottish Architecture (with Aonghus Glasgow Building Preservation Trust. Neil MacKechnie and Ranald MacInnes), has lectured in architectural history and and the recently-published Modern urbanism and written for The Telegraph, Architect, on the life and times of The Herald, The Sunday Herald, Homes Sir Robert Matthew, the foremost & Interiors Scotland and The Architect’s Scottish architect of the post-1945 era. Journal. He is a frequent ITV and BBC Current research projects include an spokesman on architecture. international history of the conservation Neil wrote The Wee Green Book, a movement, an investigation of history of Glasgow Green, was co-author on mass housing in Hong Kong and Pat Lally’s book, Lazarus Only Done it Once, Singapore, and a polemical book about edited the first pictorial history of medieval contemporary ‘iconic’ architecture. Glasgow, A Tale of Two Towns and edited A Life in Cities, the autobiography of David Mackay of MBM Architects, Barcelona. In May 2008, Neil Baxter received Glasgow’s Lord Provost’s Award for services to heritage. 4 | SCOTLAND: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE TRANSACTIONS Deborah Mays Malcolm Cooper Deputy Chief Inspector Chief Inspector, Historic Scotland Historic Scotland Dr Mays is a former secretary of the Malcolm Cooper is the Chief Inspector Society of Architectural Historians and one of the executive directors of Great Britain, has written widely of Historic Scotland, an Agency of on Scottish architecture, and edited the Scottish Government. He runs two festschrifts. She and her team the Inspectorate which comprises produced Scotland: Building for the c.120 staff covering a broad range Future which serves as a platform of responsibilities relating to the for this conference, together with a designation and protection of Scotland’s round of other thematic publications historic environment. celebrating Scotland’s architecture. At the outset of his career he While at Historic Scotland she has worked as a field archaeologist been a Principal Inspector for consent for Birmingham University and for casework and served as Assessor to Hereford and Worcester Council. He the Historic Buildings Council. She is was County Archaeological Officer for a Fellow of the Royal