A fresh look at brilliance all around us
WE so often take it for granted, but Scots are surrounded by some of the greatest architecture in the world, much of it in daily use.
Take Wemyss Bay station in Renfrewshire, for example. It’s a gem of Victorian architecture – and a fully functioning station and pier.
Now the Festival of Architecture 2016 aims to put the built environment around us centre-stage.
Curated by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Festival is delivering an extensive programme of events and activities.
As one of the cornerstones of what has been declared the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, the festival pays homage to Scotland’s fantastic buildings, old and new.
From the Western Isles to the Borders, there’s a plethora of entertainment, showcasing both historic and contemporary Scottish architecture at its best with this inspired programme of events.
OUT OF THEIR HEADS
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, until February 5, 2017 (Free)
Peer inside the minds of our greatest architects by encountering recreations of their most famous designs. Some of Scotland’s most stunning buildings and the achievements of the country’s most distinguished architects are celebrated in an innovatively presented exhibition exploring the key figures who have shaped Scotland’s world-renowned architectural heritage.
IDEAL HUT SHOW
Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, until June 26 (part of the West End Festival –Free)
A quirky gem of an event that will get the entire family talking, it will tour Scotland until September 30. Eighteen garden sheds have been ‘pimped up’ by leading architects, artists, designers and celebrities from Scotland and abroad. The sheds will be on display at venues throughout Scotland including Dundee Botanic Garden, Inverness Botanic Gardens and in central Perth.
SCOTSTYLE
Touring across Scotland throughout 2016 – look out for the 1979 Volkswagen camper van
This free exhibition celebrates the top 100 buildings from 19162015, nominated by the public. It is accompanied by a superb new publication edited by Neil Baxter and Fiona Sinclair.
The exhibition also gives you the chance to vote for your favourite Scottish building from the past 100 years.
This weekend you can see Scotstyle at St Conan’s Kirk, Loch Awe, near Dalmally, Argyll; MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling; New Lanark Visitor Centre, Lanark
POP-UP CITIES EXPO
The Mound, Edinburgh, June 21 to July 17 (Free)
The area will be transformed into a village of city pavilions as Pop-Up Cities Expo arrives in the capital. The five-metre square city pavilions represent Bergen, Dundee, Rotterdam, Vilnius and host city Edinburgh.
ADVENTURES IN SPACE
Lighthouse, Glasgow, July 7 to October 2 (Free)
This exhibition will offer insights into the architecture of science fiction.
It will compare the ideas of architectural visionaries with startling representations of buildings and cities from the birth of cinema to the present day from movies including Blade Runner and The Matrix.
CAKEFEST SCOTLAND 2016
Stirling, September 11 (ticketed).
One hundred teams from throughout Scotland will oversee the creation of a spectacular threedimensional fully edible map of Scotland featuring 100 of our greatest buildings, modelled out of Scottish ingredients.
This will engage with young and old, architects, bakers professional and nonprofessional with diverse activities, creating new resources to help individuals and communities shape Scotland in cake! See this spectacle as it takes shape and help create the details (cars, buses, boats and more) for the map.
WEMYSS BAY STATION: HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS AND RECORDS
Until December 17 (Free)
A photograph and record exhibition detailing the construction, history and renovation of category A listed Wemyss Bay station and pier, one of the finest historic railway stations in the whole of Europe.
THE STUDY HOUSE: BENNET HOUSE
Bennet House, Culross, Fife. Until October 31 (Free)
The National Trust for Scotland Little Houses Improvement Scheme is restoring a historic building in Culross. The Study House is the learning programme running alongside, showing conservation in action.
FESTIVAL OF POLITICS
Scottish parliament, Edinburgh, August 18 to 20
Enjoy the debates, exhibitions, films and Festival Café Bar entertainment. This year, the Festival of Politics will take inspiration from the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
TWILIGHT TOURS
Borders, September 1 to 30 (Free)
Twilight Tours will take place at six of the best of Scotland’s Big Houses – Floors Castle, Bowhill, Traquair, Abbotsford, Gunsgreen and Paxton Houses – and allow visitors to enjoy some of the region’s finest architecture, interior and garden designs. CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE CRAFT SKILLS Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh, August 27 (Free)
Learn about the ancient craft of stonemasonry and how castles were built. Scotland is filled with fascinating castles, from the world renowned, such as Eilean Donan in Wester Ross, Scotland’s most photographed castle, to the most famous of them all – Edinburgh, one of many Historic Environment Scotland’s properties to feature in this year’s festival.
GEORGIAN FESTIVAL
Perth Georgian Festival, Perth September 3
Talks, tours and exhibitions on Georgian architecture, garden design, fashion, literature and poetry, artists of the period and what life was like in Perth then.
LIGHT NIGHTS
Festival Finale, Dundee, November 18-19 (Free) The Grand Finale of the Festival of Architecture 2016, in the spectacular amphitheatre of the Tay and throughout the city centre. The full programme will be announced soon, so keep an eye on www. foa2016.com for more information.