Scotland s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design a vital art

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Hester Martin
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1 Scotland s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 a vital art an exhibition of artwork by architect-artists from around Scotland and Europe celebrating a century of The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland The Festival of Architecture 2016 The century since the establishment of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland in 1916 is particularly notable in that Scotland excelled in so many aspects of innovation, architecture and design. Fluctuating social and economic fortunes throughout each decade of this century stimulated exceptional endeavour and resulted in many Scottish architects and designers proving themselves very capable of pioneering new techniques, technologies and international style. World recognition for scottish architecture during the period matched or even exceeded the oft-repeated music-hall list of Scottish Inventors The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 and the RIAS Festival of Architecture celebrate a selection of these major cultural achievements. Establishing a professional body for architects in Scotland (1916) lead quickly to the awarding of a Royal Charter in 1922 embracing all aspects of the architects role, education and practice. Formal training, standards and qualification gradually replaced traditional and informal apprenticeships which had previously enabled so many artists and artisans to migrate from building as stone masons etc, into designing and creating new grand visions as Architects. Phenomenal advancements in technology and design throughout the 20th century has fostered a wider taste for Specialisms and Specialists. This too has effectively contributed to diluting the omnipotence of the architect as lead creative and on occassions appears to substituted co-ordination and design management duties. Many architects, whose training often involved many years of study at Art Schools, express concern when artistic values appear to be squeezed out of the design process often in favour of more pragmatic and tangible factors such as cost engineering or building science. The Scottish Society of Architect Artists is an affiliated society of RIAS and Ligne et Couleur, Paris, whose members are particularly interested in maintaining and reinforcing traditional interaction between the arts and architecture.

C R Mackintosh s Influence KAREN CAIRNS 1920 s POST WAR EXHUBERANCE As RIAS was forming in 1916, one of Scotland best loved architects, CRM, was about to leave Glasgow having already also gained

Mackintosh s architecture was clearly enlivened and enriched by his profound interest and understanding of art, and his artworks similarly benefitted from his discipline as an architect.

2 C R Mackintosh s Influence KAREN CAIRNS 1920 s POST WAR EXHUBERANCE As RIAS was forming in 1916, one of Scotland best loved architects, CRM, was about to leave Glasgow having already also gained international notoriety as an Artist, through collaborations with Herbert McNair, Margaret and Frances MacDonald. Mackintosh s architecture was clearly enlivened and enriched by his profound interest and understanding of art, and his artworks similarly benefitted from his discipline as an architect. His influence as an architect-artist is now deeply appreciated by a modern profession, who now acknowledge CRM s influence reached far beyond Art Nouveau. an art deco vocabulary ANDREW MERRYLEES RSA 1930 s VISION OF MODERNITY Between the wars, Britain welcomed sleek modern stylish buildings particularly for entertainment, recreation and to accommodate burgeoning consumerism. Scotland s architects proved extremely able pioneers in developing an architectural vocabulary for the new Art Deco movement. Ravelston Garden Flats, Edinburgh, designed in 1935, were undoubtedly ahead of their time and still demonstrate a fresh inspired artistic and architectural vision.

IAN STUART CAMPBELL 1930 s 1938 EMPIRE EXHIBITION GLASGOW The United Kingdom s romance with Art Deco reached a zenith in Scotland in 1938 with Glasgow s Empire Exhibition held in Bellahouston Park.

Stylish pavilions along Colonial Avenue represented engineering, business and domestic character from each Commonwealth country ranged around the beacon and centre piece, a 470 foot high Tower of

3 IAN STUART CAMPBELL 1930 s 1938 EMPIRE EXHIBITION GLASGOW The United Kingdom s romance with Art Deco reached a zenith in Scotland in 1938 with Glasgow s Empire Exhibition held in Bellahouston Park. A new world envisaging clean bright modern palaces offered an industrial and domestic idyl visited by over 12 million people in the summer of Stylish pavilions along Colonial Avenue represented engineering, business and domestic character from each Commonwealth country ranged around the beacon and centre piece, a 470 foot high Tower of Empire sited on top of Bellahouston Hill s A NEW BEGINNING One commission for a private house in the Scottish Borders brought together two of the most creative adoptive Scots of the 20th century. Bernat Klein, a Serbian émigré, virtually single-handedly, re-invented the Borders textile industry, while Architect Peter Womersley s relatively limited output is now acknowledged as among the most distinctive and influential in Scotland of his era. Womersley was commissioned to design a house for his friend Bernat Klein and in 1958 the Klein family occupied their modern yet warm and homely family house at High Sunderland. This photo essay features current images.

Peter Womersley, to design a studio within the sloping landscape adjacent to his house. This remains an exemplar of concrete design and construction.

A pre-existing cobbled square dating from 1841, was reconfigured by enclosing the entire space below a new clear glass vaulted roof.

4 1970 s DECADE OF COLOUR AND TEXTURE? Bernat Klein House and Studio MICHAEL WOLCHOVER Working from his home High Sunderland Bernat Klein established his own clothing collections and in 1972 he again commissioned his friend, architect Peter Womersley, to design a studio within the sloping landscape adjacent to his house. This remains an exemplar of concrete design and construction s A NEW RENNAISANCE - GEORGE McI KEITH Princes Square, Glasgow was developed in 1986 to a design by the Hugh Martin Partnership. A pre-existing cobbled square dating from 1841, was reconfigured by enclosing the entire space below a new clear glass vaulted roof. Cellars of the original buildings were excavated and new galleries, escalators and stairs, created to give clear visibility and access to upper levels. Liaison with skilled artists and crafters contributed to the building s enduring quality and distinctive character. Parliament MICK DUNCAN 2000 s THE NOUGHTIES A NEW MILLENIUM The Scottish Office announced an international competition to find a designer for the new Parliament, and proposals were submitted from international architects such as Rafael Viñoly, Michael Wilford and Richard Meier. Ultimately Spanish architect Enric Miralles was chosen, with the contract being awarded to EMBT/RMJM (Scotland) Ltd, as a Spanish-Scottish joint venture design company, specifically created for the project. Monumental pencil drawings by Mick Duncan described the design to a nation filled with anticipation.

Glasgow Transport Museum Dr TRISH CAIN RGI 2010 s THE TEENIES - ART AND AD- VANCED CONSTRUCTION An unique summer solo art exhibition was held at Glasgow

Spread over seven rooms, the art works explored the construction process of Glasgow s new Riverside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid.

THE KELPIES Andy Scott, HonFellow SSAA 2014 THE ARCHITECTURE OF PUBLIC ART Scottish sculptor Andy Scott graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1986 and

5 Glasgow Transport Museum Dr TRISH CAIN RGI 2010 s THE TEENIES - ART AND AD- VANCED CONSTRUCTION An unique summer solo art exhibition was held at Glasgow s Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries in Spread over seven rooms, the art works explored the construction process of Glasgow s new Riverside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid. Dr Trish Cain RGI, worked on-site during a three year Artist s Residency exlporing the give and take nature of construction. THE KELPIES Andy Scott, HonFellow SSAA 2014 THE ARCHITECTURE OF PUBLIC ART Scottish sculptor Andy Scott graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1986 and is now renowned for distinctive handcrafted figurative sculptures combining traditional dexterity with contemporary fabrication techniques. His Heavy Horse beside the M8 won hearts and minds throughout Central Scotland for years before his gigantic Kelpies put Scotland firmly on the world sculpture map in 2014.

THE VITAL ART. 6th - 30th april 2016 THE SCOTTISH ARTS CLUB 24 RUTLAND SQUARE, EDINBURGH EH1 2BW

THE VITAL ART. 6th - 30th april 2016 THE SCOTTISH ARTS CLUB 24 RUTLAND SQUARE, EDINBURGH EH1 2BW THE SCOTTISH ARTS CLUB 24 RUTLAND SQUARE, EDINBURGH EH1 2BW 6th - 30th april 2016 free to public : tuesday - saturday 11.00-5.00pm Mick Duncan : Parlez Vous Parly THE VITAL ART 2016 exhibition of artwork