George Square - Edinburgh University buildings: photo © Adrian Welch 2006
Edinburgh University Library, George Square, 1965-67, Sir Basil Spence + Glover & Ferguson
Typical 60's sober stylng, but with Aaltoesque timber internal rhythms.
2006 Update: The Library and podium building were listed, along with the Hume Tower by Historic Scotland
Edinburgh University Library was founded in 1580. The University Library moved in 1827 to William Playfair's Upper Library in the college building. The collections in Edinburgh University Old College - known as the General Library - moved in 1967 to the purpose-built eight-storey Main Library building at George Square.
Edinburgh University Library: image © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh University Library was not designed solely by Basil Spence but by J. Hardie Glover and Andrew Merrylees, of Sir Basil Spence, Glover and Ferguson, Edinburgh. Andrew Merrylees' practice went on to become Hypostyle Architects who have recently extended the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge. Designs for the new Edinburgh University Library were begun in Nov 1963. Demolition of the existing George Square buildings began in 1964.
The building was formally opened on 1 March 1968 by the Chancellor of the Edinburgh University, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh University Library was refurbished in 1999.
Edinburgh University Library principal architect - Basil Spence
George Square - Edinburgh University buildings: photo © Adrian Welch 2006
Just to the North is Robert Matthew's Hume Tower:
Hume Tower building: image © Adrian Welch
Hume Tower
English Literature Department + Department of Classics
The University of Edinburgh, David Hume Tower,
George Square, Edinburgh
+44 (0)131 650 3620
Edinburgh University Student Centre: image © Adrian Welch
Appleton Tower - Demolition
Appleton Tower building: photos © Adrian Welch 2006
Channel 4 show Demolition - supported by George Fergusion of the RIBA and fronted by Kevin McCloud - are asking for nominations to demolish 'ugly buildings' across the UK: The Cockburn Association has named the Appleton Tower alongside the St James Centre, the Jury's Inn Hotel on Jeffrey Street, and Clifton Terrace, at Haymarket, as one of the Capital’s ugliest buildings:
Appleton Tower
Edinburgh University Science Facility: image © Adrian Welch
The George Square building [on Crichton Street] was constructed during a redevelopment of the area by Edinburgh University in the early 1960s. Designed in 1963 by respected post-war Edinburgh architects Alan Reiach, Eric Hall & Partners (latterly Reiach and Hall Architects who are now involved with Bennetts Associates on the new Potterow building - Informatics school, see below link) the Science Facility includes labs and lecture theatres.
Edinburgh University Library: image © Adrian Welch
The Appleton Tower provides research, teaching and learning facilities; the Edinburgh University School of Informatics is now housed in the tower following the Old Town Fire, with the neuroscience department.
Hume Tower building: image © Adrian Welch
Potterrow building : Edinburgh Mosque
Robert Matthew: Johnson-Marshall & Partners
British Home Stores, Edinburgh
David Hume Tower, Edinburgh
Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport, Edinburgh
Lothian Regional Headquarters, Edinburgh
Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh
Wester Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh
Stirling University, Airthrey Castle, Stirling
Sir Robert Matthew, Architect: 1906 - 1975
Robert Matthew grew up in Edinburgh and studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. Robert was the son of John Matthew who was the partner of Sir Robert Lorimer (1864 - 1929). John had built several buildings for Edinburgh University on their King's Buildings campus. Robert was apprenticed with his father's firm in the 1930s. In 1936 Robert Matthew joined the Department of Health (Scotland), where he rose to become their Chief Architect by 1945.
In 1946 Matthew was appointed Architect to London County Council (LCC).
Robert returned to Edinburgh to become the first Professor of Architecture at Edinburgh University (1953-1968). He established a new Architecture Department and was responsible for advising the University on the redevelopment of George Square, together with designing of some of the buildings such as the David Hume Tower.
Robert established the architectural practice of Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall (RMJM), with Sirrat Johnson-Marshall, in Edinburgh and London in 1956. RMJM has offices across the globe and is the largest architectural practice in the UK.
Robert Matthew made his mark in social architecture through the design of public buildings. Matthew's key works include New Zealand House in London, London Festival Hall and Pakistan's new capital buildings, Islamabad.
Matthew served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the International Union of Architects and the Commonwealth Association of Architects.
Back towards the centre, note the McEwan Hall, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Robert Rowand Anderson.
Architecture Books
Edinburgh Walking Tours
Links related to Edinburgh University Library / George Square:
Edinburgh Informatics - Bennetts Associates with Reiach and Hall Architects
Edinburgh University Informatics: image from Bennetts Associates
Edinburgh University Old College - Robert Adam Architect
Edinburgh University Old College: image © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh University Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions - Hurd Rolland
Building image from Hurd Rolland Architects
Alexander Graham Bell Building - Hurd Rolland
Building image from Hurd Rolland Architects
William Rankine Building - Hurd Rolland
William Rankine Building: images by Yahya Islami, from Hurd Rolland Architects
Kings Buildings chimney & associated works - Michael Laird Partnership
building image by Henk Snoek from Michael Laird Architects
Edinburgh : back to index
Edinburgh Informatics - Photos