Gothic Styles And The Modern Sore Thumb (Discussion #3)
Location: Union Square/Union Street/Port, Aberdeen
Date: September 19th, 2018
Chances are that the image of a ruined castle standing stoically out on the edge of a cliff immediately comes to mind when the country of Scotland is mentioned. Although this image is justified through the vast number of ruins scattered throughout the landscape, the image has shaped the cities of Scotland. Contemporary art movements have threatened Modern architecture has provided to be a sore thumb in an otherwise cohesively styled city due to the style of the previously standing structures.
Gothic architecture presents many interesting and desired qualities in buildings compared to contemporary styles. The style utilizes flying buttresses, flourishing spirals, and steep arches integrated in the stonework. What sets the style apart is the use of these factors in the use of curves in
structural integrity and aesthetics. The gargoyles, spires, and deep-set vaults add to the extravagant aesthetic while the buttresses that Gothic architecture helps to support the vaults and their many cutout sections. In comparison, modern architecture in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeen, takes a very opposite approach. Contemporary buildings range in style but often take after sculptures in gigantic proportion and many use copious amounts of glass. A building of this style is located right on the campus of the University of Aberdeen and is the Sir Duncan Rice Library. As seen in the picture below, the entire building looks like a glass version of a child's play block. While each style has its advantages and artistic value, why does the recent style of buildings present such a challenge to the architectural landscape?
Contemporary styled buildings do not fit into the city's medieval aesthetic because the country has a consistent style that starkly contrasts modern buildings. Taking a look at the library below and comparing it to Culzean Castle in the photo above, it's easy to note the differences in building style. Culzean Castle has arches and pillars to mark an entryway. Sir Duncan Rice Library has a simple cement path and is completely square. Besides the differences in architectural styles, the materials used in other campus buildings are different. Fraser Noble, Arts Lecture Theater, and Meston and are made of granite or concrete and reflect the styles of the city around them. The glass library feels out of place because it makes no effort to utilize characteristics around it, such as sharing walls with other buildings, having curves, and incorporating arches. While the library has its artistic merits such as incorporating the colors of the nearby North Sea, it does not help represent the people of the city nor blend in with the rest of the buildings.
Bibliography:
Date: September 19th, 2018
Chances are that the image of a ruined castle standing stoically out on the edge of a cliff immediately comes to mind when the country of Scotland is mentioned. Although this image is justified through the vast number of ruins scattered throughout the landscape, the image has shaped the cities of Scotland. Contemporary art movements have threatened Modern architecture has provided to be a sore thumb in an otherwise cohesively styled city due to the style of the previously standing structures.
Gothic architecture presents many interesting and desired qualities in buildings compared to contemporary styles. The style utilizes flying buttresses, flourishing spirals, and steep arches integrated in the stonework. What sets the style apart is the use of these factors in the use of curves in
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| A day at Culzean Castle (My photo) |
Contemporary styled buildings do not fit into the city's medieval aesthetic because the country has a consistent style that starkly contrasts modern buildings. Taking a look at the library below and comparing it to Culzean Castle in the photo above, it's easy to note the differences in building style. Culzean Castle has arches and pillars to mark an entryway. Sir Duncan Rice Library has a simple cement path and is completely square. Besides the differences in architectural styles, the materials used in other campus buildings are different. Fraser Noble, Arts Lecture Theater, and Meston and are made of granite or concrete and reflect the styles of the city around them. The glass library feels out of place because it makes no effort to utilize characteristics around it, such as sharing walls with other buildings, having curves, and incorporating arches. While the library has its artistic merits such as incorporating the colors of the nearby North Sea, it does not help represent the people of the city nor blend in with the rest of the buildings.
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| Sir Duncan Rice Library ("University of Aberdeen New Library") |
Bibliography:
“University of Aberdeen New Library / Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.” ArchDaily, 27 Sept. 2012, www.archdaily.com/276161/university-of-aberdeen-new-library-schmidt-hammer-lassen-architects.
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