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Simpson & Brown Architects
Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick Harbour, East Lothian
1999
Scottish Seabird Centre: Photo © Adrian Welch 19 May 2007
Organic style building using timber boarding and rubble walls, perched on the edge of the sea. The Scottish Seabird Centre meets the visitor with a divided prow form, of modern conception but feeling timeless, redolent of Peter Salter's work in Japan. This is the building's best facade.
Scottish Seabird Centre: Photo © Adrian Welch 19 May 2007
As the land falls away to either side one imagines the Scottish Seabird Centre being splashed by the waves: disappointingly there is a large tarmac carpark between the SSB and the sea, a great shame. The building's fenestration is tucked under the eaves, hooded eyes looking into the strong winds that blow here. Inside there is too much plain timber for me. Also, the transom in the cafe blocked my view of Bass Rock and the Isle of May: however, in no way did it obstruct for my children's task of 'looking out for sharks'.
Scottish Seabird Centre: Photo from Simpson & Brown Architects
The interior of the Scottish Seabird Centre is centrifugally-planned around a double-height space that connects the lower exhibition flloor up past the entry level to the central rooflight. This allows vistas and light but is unfortunately glazed in with a timber-framed screen, limiting the poignancy.
Scottish Seabird Centre: Photo © Adrian Welch 19 May 2007
In summary the Scottish Seabird Centre is a bold building that tries to do something new: neither modern nor traditional, it asks questions.
Scottish Architecture
Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick: info@seabird.org
Scottish Seabird Centre: Photo © Adrian Welch
The Seabird Centre is essentially a wildlife visitor centre close to Bass Rock. The Centre has a Gift Shop and Café with views and open deck over the Firth of Forth.
Scottish Seabird Centre - architects: Simpson & Brown
Scottish Housing
Edinburgh : back to index
Key Scottish building by Simpson & Brown Architects: Rosslyn Chapel
Edinburgh Walking Tours
Local building by Simpson & Brown Architects:
SOC Bird Centre, Aberlady, East Lothian, Scotland
Scottish Seabird Centre - Website: www.seabird.org