For Scottish architects, a decision to go it alone could create longer-term opportunities for Scotland to enshrine its own architectural education and regulation system based on the protection of function. It could also boost the development of a strong, distinctively Scottish architectural culture […] Independence could well dissuade practices and architects from relocating south. — Architects' Journal
The Architects' Journal is polling architects for their opinion ahead of tomorrow's vote on Scottish independence. So far, two-thirds of Scottish architects voted pro-independence. Specifically: "Those working in small practices showed a clear preference for independence, but those at medium to large practices were divided by an almost even split between the yes and no camps."
For the most part, the issues behind Scottish independence pertain to more general economic, social, and political considerations, but these would certainly affect the architecture profession. Some have voiced concerns of a brain drain of talented young architects to London. Additionally, the current confusion of what monetary system an independent Scotland would adopt could have severe repercussions for the field, potentially stagnating new projects.
The most recent polls suggest a slight lead for the pro-union camp, but it remains quite close.
Do you have an opinion on tomorrow's referrendum?
12 Comments
some say independence will likely bring about a sharp recession for both the UK and new scotland. that wouldn't be good for architects. would new scotland keep the pound, or switch to the euro? also, what are they going to do with all the british military installations?
other than the potential economic risks, i don't know that architecture will change much for scottish architects. architecture that is global will stay global, architecture that is local will stay local, right?
Who will be next? The South U.S.?
That Miralles building is great, maintenance costs and all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6vDzf-wSbk
Independence is a nice idea but really bad for big (global) business. If they vote aye, don't be surprised to see the country disintegrate in separatist violence incited and supported by the usual suspects.
Great link, curt.
god save the whisky. the rest is just details.
i support the scotish people, whichever way the vote goes.
What exactly is great about the Parliament building?
OMG, EKE, have you been to the Parliament building?! It's materially rich and complex in a lovely, engaging way. It awakens your body with empathy for the way the materials are employed so playfully yet with respect to their nature. It uses light masterfully, it's big but intimate and completely unstuffy.
It's really a wonderful building, and to me (with my Yank understanding of Scotland based mainly on my husband's heritage, Local Hero/Braveheart/Trainspotting, and shameless desire for Ewan McGregor) it's purely Scottish in its idiosyncrasy and its risky but poetic materiality.
Oh heavens. It's one of the best buildings I've been to.
I'm perfectly happy to reserve judgement, since I have not been there, and it does appear to be the kind of building that's difficult to capture in photographs.
But what I have seen in photos, at first blush, seems weirdly contrived and oddly idiosyncratic, and not in a good way. All of the "embellishment" seems not integral to the architecture, but hung on the surface in a very superficial way.
And all sorts of people seem to see it as quintessentially Scottish, but no one really seems to explain what that really means, or how it is that I should understand that from the way the building is communicating to me. If I looked at that building, I'm not sure I would think "Scotland!". Mostly critics talk of some vague alignment with a Scottish craft tradition, but when pressed for a specific reference in the architecture, they talk about how the screens attached to the building recall an obscure Scottish painting of a gentleman ice skating. ???
Maybe it's just not possible to "get it" from photos. Donna, if someone as knowledgeable as you, having visited it, thinks so highly of it, I take that seriously.
Edinburgh Castle is waaay cool.
The screens seem very well-crafted in themselves but the way they are hung on the building isn't especially noteworthy. The interiors are very well-crafted - frequently true in such a harsh climate, I guess.
In part, I'm just a sucker for a few really basic material moves that Miralles employed:
- filtered light: reminds us of forests, makes people look more attractive
- wood: easy to imagine a craftsman carpenter working it with love
- embedded metal track in the floor tracing the arc of a door swing - swoon! (look on the concrete floor in the photo)
Anyway, the vote is in. Good luck, Scotland, and I'll be back to visit in a few years.
Elemental falacity .
Falacity? Do you mean fallacy? Facility?
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