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Dunlop publishes Glasgow sketchbook

September 5 2011

Dunlop publishes Glasgow sketchbook
Following the success of a published sketchbook of Alan Dunlop has followed through with publication of a second book; this time focussed the architect’s home turf of Glasgow.

Working Drawing: Glasgow Sketchbook
, features projects pulled from throughout the architects career in the city, from a 1997 project to remodel the former Co-op headquarters to ongoing work to create a new HQ for Strathclyde Police.

Separated into several chapters, beginning with Dunlop’s catalogue of city centre commercial work in ‘Teasing the Grid’, the book goes on to document efforts to re-define the Clyde in ‘A River Runs Through it”.

Predominantly consisting of charcoal prints the sketchbook includes a few experiments in colour and depicts a range of drawing techniques from cross sections to annotated panoramas.
New residences: The Co-op headquarters
New residences: The Co-op headquarters
Office development, McPhater Street
Office development, McPhater Street

15 Comments

Stanley Boumchenke
#1 Posted by Stanley Boumchenke on 5 Sep 2011 at 11:11 AM
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz.
Alan Dunlop
#2 Posted by Alan Dunlop on 5 Sep 2011 at 13:51 PM
Hahaha, not really a publishing success, the first 50 sold at £10.00 a go and lost £1.87p on each.
The Equasliser
#3 Posted by The Equasliser on 5 Sep 2011 at 14:23 PM
Step 1 : Ask minion to create Sketchup model
Step 2 : Ask minion to Export JPG of requested perspective
Step 3 : Trace over image and pass off as free-hand
The Equaliser
#4 Posted by The Equaliser on 5 Sep 2011 at 14:23 PM
Step 1 : Ask minion to create Sketchup model
Step 2 : Ask minion to Export JPG of requested perspective
Step 3 : Trace over image and pass off as free-hand
Alan Dunlop
#5 Posted by Alan Dunlop on 5 Sep 2011 at 14:41 PM
hahaha aye right enough Equasliser, minions that's the answer.
Barry
#6 Posted by Barry on 5 Sep 2011 at 14:49 PM
Very nice drawings. There's always something special about seeing a human hand at work in an age of computer fakery.

I just wish the actual architecture presented wasn't so constrained by this boxy/angular/boringness that sadly seems to manifest itself in Scotland.

I wish today's architecture matched the actual brilliance of Glasgow's sandstone buildings.
Matt
#7 Posted by Matt on 5 Sep 2011 at 14:53 PM
....which we all know are curvy, free flowing organic shapes Barry.....

Oh no wait.
Barry
#8 Posted by Barry on 5 Sep 2011 at 14:57 PM
@Matt

No, just architecture which actually had ambition and was predictable, boring and bland.

Ya know, like what much of Glasgow actually used to have.

I mean, why have renovate a stunning tenement when we can have a brick and render masterpiece. It's what dreams are made of!
Matt
#9 Posted by Matt on 5 Sep 2011 at 16:00 PM
True dat.

That said, I'd say Mr. Dunlop is one of a few architects in Glasgow who do a fair bit more than throw up brick and rendered generic. Although I'm not clear if you're criticising Alan's architecture or his subject matter in your original post...
Barry
#10 Posted by Barry on 5 Sep 2011 at 16:28 PM
@Matt

I wasn't criticising Alan Dunlop at all. His drawings are brilliant,really beautiful things in a computer age to see such nice hand drawings.

I was actually just making a point as you correctly observe regarding the subject matter more than anything else.And that's not his doing. I always just feel there's an overwhelming lack of ambition in general and hence in Scotland there appears to be a clichéd style of blandness.

There's always glimpses of something beyond the ordinary with the likes of the Radisson hotel which is a smart wee building.It really transformed the local area and was good architecture.A great addition to Glasgow.

I think Scotland is an incredibly creative country. But I don't think we utilise our creative people to their best effect. But that's just me opinion.I think Alan Dunlop's talents could be better utilised and I belivee he has lambasted the way competitions are run (favouring foreign practices) which is something I agree with.

I think Glasgow's an amazing city -- it truly has some of my favourite architecture and streetscapes. It's a city unlike any other in the UK.

I just wish that today's architecture (constrained by budgets, silly planning etc) had the same ambition as the past so that the present was of a standard we know to be great.

But of course, that's very wishful and idealistic. But hey, we can but dream.....

Not Alan Dunlop
#11 Posted by Not Alan Dunlop on 5 Sep 2011 at 16:53 PM
Everything I draw seems to resemble 1970s brutalist Architecture, just can't help it.

PS Equaliser - Shhhh ;-)
Barry
#12 Posted by Barry on 5 Sep 2011 at 16:57 PM
@Alan Dunlop

Your drawings are superb.Better than what most the CAD monkeys can produce nowadays. lol
Mark
#13 Posted by Mark on 5 Sep 2011 at 22:44 PM
Brilliant! How to you get a hard copy it’s not clear from the website. I bought the last one hard copy, is this for sale?
Alan Dunlop
#14 Posted by Alan Dunlop on 6 Sep 2011 at 09:11 AM
Sorry Mark, the Glasgow Sketchbook is not for sale but can be downloaded free from the "work" section of my website, the resolution is fine just takes a minute or so to download.
www.alandunloparchitects.com

Organising, commercially printing, packaging and posting hard copies of the first was too much hassle I'm afraid.
Carlo M
#15 Posted by Carlo M on 7 Sep 2011 at 18:38 PM
Cracking!

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