Scottish Architecture

At last - here is a single volume authoritative history of Scottish architecture. This compact yet comprehensive account combines factual description of the vast and fertile range of visual forms and key architects in each period with a wide-ranging analysis of their social, ideological and historical context. As Scotland has often been closely involved with new trends in western architecture, this book highlights the interaction of Scottish developments with broader European and international movements. From the beginnings of the Renaissance in the 15th century right up to the 1990s ,this much-needed survey covers the entire post-medieval story in one volume.

This architectural survey covers one of Scotland's most important periods of political and architectural change when mainstream European classicism became embedded as the cultural norm. Interposed between the decline of 'the Scottish castle' and its revival as Scotch Baronial architecture, the contributors consider both private and public/civic architecture. They showcase the architectural reflections of a Scotland finding its new elites by providing new research, analysing paradigms such as Holyrood and Hamilton Palace, as well as external reference points such as Paris tenements, Roman precedents and English parallels. Typologically, the book is broad in scope, covering the architecture and design of country estate and also the urban scene in the era before Edinburgh New Town. Steps decisively away from the 'Scottish castle' genre of architectureContextualises the work of Scotland's first well-documented grouping of major architects - including Sir William Bruce, Mr James Smith, James Gibbs and the Adam dynastyDocuments the architectural developments of a transformational period in Scottish history Beautifully illustrated throughout with 300 colour illustrations a

Scotland is almost unique among smaller European nations in the distinctiveness and richness of its architectural heritage, dominated from the earliest times by monumental stone buildings. Prehistoric tombs and houses, early Christian, Romanesque and Gothic churches, medieval and Renaissance castles and palaces were followed, from the 17th century onward, under the stimulus of burgeoning wealth and power, by buildings reflecting a dazzling range of stylistic movements and forceful designers - including world-renowned names such as Robert Adam, Alexander Thomson and C. R. Mackintosh. In the 20th century, Scotland again saw distinctive developments and personalities. Miles Glendinning and Aonghus MacKechnie bring these diverse movements and architects to life, while setting them in their wider cultural context. The built environment has always been one of the central strands of Scottish identity, and this book, for the first time, sets out its story in a concise and readable form.

As the debate about Scottish independence rages on, this book takes a timely look at how Scotland's politics have been expressed in its buildings, exploring how the architecture of Scotland – in particular the constantly-changing ideal of the 'castle' – has been of great consequence to the ongoing narrative of Scottish national identity. Scotch Baronial provides a politically-framed examination of Scotland's kaleidoscopic 'castle architecture', tracing how it was used to serve successive political agendas both prior to and during the three 'unionist centuries' from the early 17th century to the 20th century. The book encompasses many of the country's most important historic buildings – from the palaces left behind by the 'lost' monarchy, to revivalist castles and the proud town halls of the Victorian age – examining their architectural styles and tracing their wildly fluctuating political and national connotations. It ends by bringing the story into the 21st century, exploring how contemporary 'neo-modernist' architecture in today's Scotland, as exemplified in the Holyrood parliament, relates to concepts of national identity in architecture over the previous centuries.

Searchable online reference covers more than 20 centuries of history, and interpret history broadly, covering areas such as archaeology, climate, culture, languages, immigration, migration, and emigration. Multi-authored entries analyze key themes such as national identity, women and society, living standards, and religious belief across the centuries in an authoritative yet approachable way. The A-Z entries are complemented by maps, genealogies, a glossary, a chronology, and an extensive guide to further reading.--From title screen.