{"id":30191,"date":"2017-01-26T12:16:26","date_gmt":"2017-01-26T12:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=30191"},"modified":"2017-01-26T12:25:00","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T12:25:00","slug":"scottish-cities-architectural-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/scottish-cities-architectural-history\/30191\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish cities have a long but very different architectural history"},"content":{"rendered":"

DM Design highlight the differences in architecture across Scottish cities and how this provides a unique insight into the history of the country<\/h2>\n

Scotland\u2019s natural landscape is stunning, and that’s before we start to consider the amazing architecture that can be found around the country. For the short distances between them, three of Scotland\u2019s biggest cities look worlds apart, containing very different architectural histories.<\/p>\n

Home design specialists DM Design have taken a look into the architecture of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen to see how they differ, and how political and historic events have influenced the design and construction of buildings there.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh<\/h3>\n

Age of Enlightenment<\/h4>\n

William Henry Playfair was instrumental in Edinburgh\u2019s Enlightenment. The Enlightenment involved a wave of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. Playfair designed some of Edinburgh\u2019s most impressive buildings, in a classical Greek revival style, earning Edinburgh its nickname of \u2018Athens of the North\u2019.<\/p>\n

The introduction of the New Town<\/h4>\n

Edinburgh\u2019s Town Council proposed a new town in 1752, altering the cityscape into symmetrical streets lined with terraced houses. Streets were named in celebration of the Act of Union, including George Street, after the king at the time. Designs also included large, incorporated gardens, shopping centres and green spaces. It was expected the wealthy would live in the New Town.<\/p>\n

As the New Town flourished, the Old Town also benefited. Roadways and buildings at the Court and Exchange were also built at this time.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh now has 5,000 listed buildings and is a heady mix of the medieval and the modern living side-by-side.<\/p>\n

Glasgow<\/h3>\n

The impact of Charles Rennie Mackintosh<\/h4>\n

During the 19th Century, the work of renowned architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh transformed Glasgow\u2019s cityscape, architecture and design worldwide.<\/p>\n

\"\"Born in Glasgow in 1868, he began his career with an evening course at the Glasgow School of Art, interspersed with an apprenticeship in architecture at the Glasgow practice of Honeyman and Keppie.<\/p>\n

Glasgow\u2019s School of Art was \u2013 and still is \u2013 a buzzing hub of art, design and architecture. In the 1890s, together with his contemporaries Margaret MacDonald, Frances MacDonald and Herbert MacNair, Mackintosh became part of the Glasgow Four, responsible for the \u2018Glasgow Style\u2019.<\/p>\n

Mackintosh\u2019s style was ornamental and historical, eclectic yet forward-facing. Glasgow Style was similar to this, Art Nouveau, focusing on innovation and decoration. This had a great impact on Scottish architecture, but also furniture and art, including:<\/p>\n