Synopsis
The walk started with coffee and a briefing in The Aberdeen Art Gallery. The Art Gallery was opened in 1884 and was extended twice, firstly with the addition of a sculpture court in 1905 (associated with teaching of drawing) and then with the addition of the Cowdray Hall and War Memorial in the 1930s. Between 2015 and 2019 an extensive renovation was undertaken to create new gallery space, increased natural lighting and elegant interiors. The gallery reopened in 2020.
After lunch the walk started for real leading up Skene Square to Maberly Street for the Bastille. This was followed by routing via Ann Street and Hutcheon Street to view Broadford Works (ruins), motifs around the Butchers Arms (Fraser Road) and then onto Gerrard Street to view the remaining motif marking the location of the foundries (now demolished) that were established by William McKinnon in 1789 on the land now sandwiched between Gerrard Street and Spring Garden.
Finally we walked out to Kings College to view Aberdeen University Library. The Sir Duncan Rice Library was opened in 2011 after an international competition to secure the best design, which was won by Schmidt Hammer Larson. The cuboid building has an exterior that is clad in clear and white glass, while the interior has a more organic shape. Seven layers of work space are wound around a central atrium. The building won a RIBA award in 2013 and is listed as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world by “Mother Nature Network”.
Ian R Booth (walk leader).
The Photographers:
Gus Al-Hassani
Nigel Corby
Morag Cordiner
Kevin Flanagan
Roger Hinton
Derek Knight
Andy Leonard
Ken Ness
Jackie Riach
Graham Templeton
Selection and presentation:
Each photographer chose their four preferred images and then, after discussion, we decided to organise them in reverse order with respect to the walk. Thus, the images start at the library and work their way back to the upper floor of the art gallery.
Enjoy.
