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Skyline changes



It's not often that we have changes to the skyline right in the centre of Edinburgh, unlike Glasgow which seems to be in perpetual motion.  Overall it's a fairly low-rise city.   There are some tower blocks of social housing on the periphery, but the Unesco World Heritage status of the Old Town (which is fairly old, at 16th & 17th century), and the New Town (which is still quite old, being 18th century) keeps things in check.

It's surprising therefore to see cranes at work just off Princes Street.  I thought they made an interesting counterpoint to the Gothic spire of the Scott Monument.  A Victorian building and a 1960's building have been demolished on the corner of St Andrew Square, and a new glass boxy thing is going up.  I admit that I don't have a very good architectural eye, but I get a bit depressed by the standard stuff that is going up in our cities.  Am I being too retro, surrounded as I am by medieval/Georgian/Victorian character?  Can anyone help me to see the beauty in a glass box?

 


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Comments

  1. William Kendall11 May 2015 at 22:08

    I don't see a lot of beauty in glass boxes like that- I vastly prefer the older architecture. Every once in awhile a building is put up that surprises one, but those are the exceptions when developers are involved.

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:05

      That's my view, William. I am trying to be open to new architecture, but the boxes don't help.

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  2. Maggid11 May 2015 at 22:59

    I am surprised. But then, i would be - i have dreamed of Scotland for a very long time . . I guess I need to pay attention - and admit the actual world is modern . . . thank you for sharing so much with us . . . you give me the next best thing to being there. All Best . . .

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:07

      We are pretty much a European mix of old and new - which is as it should be, but there has been some pretty awful new development in our cities. Glad you enjoy these glimpses of Scotland.

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  3. Linda W.11 May 2015 at 23:36

    You're right - a modern glass-box building just doesn't look right alongside those historic buildings.

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:08

      I'm hoping that it will at least complement the the older buildings.

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  4. Al12 May 2015 at 01:48

    Everything's supposed to look the same now - same buildings, same chain stores. Just be a good consumer and enjoy it!

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:08

      Same chain stores are even more depressing than the boxes! I know, our only purpose in life is to consume.

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  5. Linda12 May 2015 at 06:05

    It does look so out of place, doesn't it? Wonder what the design of it is to be and hopefully it will fit in with the beauty of the skyline already there!

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:09

      I looked up some plans for the new building and it just looked like very many others. I'll post the finished version in due course. Wonder how quickly it'll go up!

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  6. L. D. 12 May 2015 at 20:13

    It will be fun to see it develop and become. Our downtown of our Capital has so many different styles of new buildings and I am glad a few older ones are still there.

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:10

      Have you got some photos of your Capital on your blog Larry? I'll have to look back through your blog.

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  7. RedPat12 May 2015 at 21:20

    In the hands of a architect the glass boxes can be wonderful!

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:12

      Aha! A supporter of the new amongst all our retro leanings! I am willing to be persuaded, RedPat. I suppose there were some boring older buildings. It's just that a boring glass box is very dull indeed.

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  8. Penny12 May 2015 at 22:33

    What always fascinates me is the possibility of things being discovered when old buildings are knocked down in such historic places. Having lived in Edinburgh for many years, and now living in Glasgow, I am not a mad fan of all the new glass buildings either, and yet there is something slightly 'off' about new buildings being built to look like old ones, eg the Museum of Religeon beside Glasgow Royal Infirmary. X

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:13

      I don't know that museum, Penny. Our son was at Glasgow University for 4 years but we didn't really get to know the city. We must remedy that.

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  9. Judy H13 May 2015 at 07:37

    Lovely to see 'Thunderbirds 3' again! Judy

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:13

      It's wonderful that this is where Gerry Anderson got his inspiration, isn't it?

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  10. Anonymous17 May 2015 at 22:17

    I'm afraid I'm no help with the appreciation of glass boxes! (Have you been to the new library at the University of Aberdeen?)

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    1. Linda19 May 2015 at 21:15

      I have been to the new library, Christine, and I'm not offended by it. Is that too damning praise? It's better than its predecessor, the very ugly Queen Mother Library, but not a patch on King's. We went into King's on a recent visit and I actually cried at the vandalism of it being used as a conference centre.

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  11. Marcheline24 May 2015 at 18:13

    The only way to make modern buildings look right in historic districts is to make them completely invisible, or not at all.

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