Tags
Architecture, Caledonian Station, Edinburgh, Princes Street, Scottish Parliament Building, The Caley
Station light – train passenger caught in the stream of sunlight from the roof of the old Caledonian Station, Edinburgh in 1950.
Station Light - Caledonian Station - Edinburgh
Originally an old black & white photograph from part of an old newspaper I found in a drawer. Color and brush work added to produce this painted image. The old Caledonian Station at the west end of Princes Street is unfortunately long gone but the memories linger. As it happens quite a bit of the old Edinburgh I experienced as a boy, has changed, which whilst significant, is not as dramatic as the ‘direction’ of the changes.
Changes which have often annoyed and angered the good townsfolk to the point of despair. In my opinion the ruination of that wonderful and majestic gem – Princes Street for example. This is the main shopping area in Edinburgh which stretches from Lothian Road to Leith Street and where now no two buildings are the same. And again for me just a total architectural disaster, with little or no thought whatsoever for the history and tradition of this great City – one of the reasons why I love the old photographs and images of the early years.
The ideas and changes, the ghastly 1970′s concrete monstrosities that have appeared there, the first floor walkway that never materialised, the glass and steel boxes that sprang up, levered in between the marvellous old classical and neo-classical. I accuse this also of the the old town.
OK maybe I’m not a true modernist though in art I’m all for something new. For example I love Impressionist and Expressionist and whislt these are NOT new today they are quite wonderful concepts.
I'll give you upturned boats!
Art Deco and Art Nouveau were and still are incredible art expressions that were shocking and wonderful at the same time – but they both had – STYLE.
Unfortunately when it comes to buildings in a city such as Edinburgh, so, so often we have so called modern and striking building designs – that are simply crass. Disappointing boxes with steel and glass and purposely conceived NOT to compliment anything except the ego perhaps of the architect. Poor conceptions, poor construction and even worse poor maintenance and problems – all stemming from ‘poor’ design.
I can no better illustrate this point with the incredible Scottish Parliament building – I rest my case!
Built with the conceptualization of a true native Scots? – NO – the architect was Spanish.
Supposedly up turned boats – more in keeping with Aberdeen than Edinburgh – seat of government.
Incredible overrun on cost – mind you this is traditional as far as Edinburgh is concerned – just look at the latest fiasco – the trams planned from the airport to where? and still undecided (and why when the Edinburgh transport bus system is the best in Europe?). Ahem – we don’t need it!
And what else about this building?
Well personally I’m just waiting for it to fall down as I’m told the architect in some circles – was called El Collapso. I leave you to work out why, but this name was conjured up (again hearsay) on his building record. Sounds a bit ‘iffy’ to me!
Ah well – maybe I should just accept it all and admire the old buildings of Edinburgh while they’re still there and take as many photographs and sketches as I can – I mean there’s always another project on the way.
Did I say Forth Bridge? Oh no!
