Architecture in ruin captured by charcoal
August 24 2020
Architect Alan Dunlop has expanded his home life and architecture in time series to produce a series of evocative drawings, each illustrating a separate structure in danger of being lost to time.
From the stately Old Keiss Castle overlooking Sinclair's Bay in Caithness, now preserved as a romantic ruin, to the fire-damaged hulk of the Glasgow School of Art. Dunlop has captured the drama of each moment from frozen waves battering Caihness cliffs to desperate firefighters battling to save the Garnethill landmark from oblivion.
Other monuments to decline are visited in the set including the Southern Necropolis, a literal gateway to death and decay, as well as the 18th-century Mavisbank House, now subject to a preservation campaign.
Dunlop said: "I thought after having drawn the buildings that were set in their time but still in use today that it might be interesting to look at buildings that are ruins but are still culturally important.
"That gave me an opportunity to look at some of the incredible ruins we have in Scotland, to remind ourselves again how important and valuable they are to tourism and frankly our identity as Scots."
Pushing on Dunlop also visits St Martin's church in Castlemilk alongside the Bernat Klein Studio; St Peter's Seminary; Castle Tioram; Dunottar Castle and Aberfoyle Auld Kirk.
Aberfoyle Auld Kirk: 18th century church and burial ground. Blocks either side of arch are Mortsafes: iron coffins to protect against grave robbers in the 1700's. Very rare in such a rural location.
Bernat Klein Studio: Architect Peter Womersley. Category A listed. Deteriorating fast.
Castle Tioram: The original vitrified fort dates back to the Iron Age. First medieval fortification dates back to 12th century. The castle is the ancient fortress of the MacDonald clan.
Dunottar Castle: The stock image of Dunnottar Castle is taken from the pathway, on the landward side. Few exist, (if any) drawn of the castle and red rock on which it stands, from the North Sea.
Mavisbank House: Mavisbank House is a Category A listed, Palladian style villa set within a its own created landscape. The villa was designed in 1722 by William Adam for Sir John Clerk, the Scottish Enlightenment thinker and politician.
Old Keiss Castle: Not a well known ruin but one of Scotland's most spectacular tower houses and certainly its most precipitous. Perched on sheer cliffs overlooking the North Sea at Sinclair's Bay. It was built in the late sixteenth century.
Southern Necropolis: The lodge was once furnished with ornamental gates. It served as a waiting room; cemetery company's offices and the gardeners' bothy. The building is secured but derelict. The stonework is in poor condition.
St Martin's Church: Architects Isi Metzstein and Andy MacMillan, Gillespie Kidd and Coia 1961. Render spalling revealing in some parts the original pearl brick below. Site over grown with trees and scrubs that have self seeded.
St Peter's Seminary: Was commissioned by the Archbishop of Glasgow in 1958, as a teaching college for young priests. The building was completed and opened in 1966. Architects were Isi Metzstein and Andy MacMillan of Gillespie Kidd and Coia
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8 Comments
Was the outcome of the enquiry ever published? Seems to have gone very quiet on that one. The public should be made aware of who is responsible for the loss of one of our finest buildings.
This series brings home how quickly and effectively Mother Nature can claw things back when buildings are no longer useful (tower houses, gate lodges etc) or when they fail to live up to expectation (60's concrete optimism). Two key lessons for students of architecture: allow for possible future repurposing, and keep the rain out. Do this and you’ll be less likely to end up in an ‘architecture in ruin’ exhibition!
Great drawings as always.
"I'm the trouble starter, punkin' instigator
I'm the fear addicted, a danger illustrated"
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