Author: Neale Elder

Dundee Civic Trust Student Award 2024

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Since 2019, Dundee Civic Trust has given awards to one or more fourth year Dundee University students studying architecture at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Our aim has been to engage with students and to recognise and promote excellence in their year-long project work. This year’s winner is Chinese student Gavin Wu, whose submission was entitled ‘Revive The Courtyard Vennels: Community Centre and Care Home Design’.

Informed by the environment of central Stirling, Gavin’s project demonstrated a sensitive and contextual use of the traditional archetypes of ‘Vennel Walls’ and ‘Courtyards’, connecting the old backlands together using a vibrant new complex of buildings incorporating a care home and community centre.

We were impressed by this bold attempt to ensure cross-generational interaction between the older people living in the new care home and the younger people using the community centre and hall. More of this vital mixed use planning is needed in our cities. Also of note were the interesting and original construction details, making use of sustainable materials and solar panels.

Gavin made thorough use of well-analysed inspirational precedents, including the John Modern Centre in London by MAE architects—which won the  RIBA Stirling Prize in 2023—and the Foundation Beyeler exhibition centre in Switzerland by Renzo Piano architects.

This is the final year of the award and we look forward to engaging with Dundee School of Architecture students in new ways in the future.

 

 

 

AGM, followed by ‘Underground Scotland’

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 17 April 2025, 7.00 pm

Talk by Bruce Keith

This talk, by our regular and fast-paced AGM speaker Bruce Keith, is based on his third book and takes a subterranean odyssey exploring the natural and man-made heritage under our feet. From natural caves to hollow mountains used to generate hydro-electric power, from ancient civilisations to underground bunkers to railway tunnels, from water supplies to the sewers which take away our wastes and much else asides; all are revealed when we take a look below. And Dundee and her hinterland has much to offer and amaze.

The talk will take place as usual in Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, but it will be preceded by the Trust’s AGM at 7.00 pm (19:00) and will start at the later time of 7.30 pm (19:30).  Guests and non-members are welcome and there will be the opportunity to chat over a glass of wine afterwards, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

Dundee and Offshore Marine Engineering – an insight into the multiple international business streams of vessel providers and the supply chains upon which they rely

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 20 March 2025, 7.00 pm, Discovery Point

Talk by Professor Norman McLennan, FRICS

Norman’s talk will provide an insight into the energy sector transition as it moves towards more renewable solutions, whilst at the same time ensuring a balanced energy mix. He will give a snapshot of how Dundee supports related industries, looking also at the complex collaborative alliances that are now required across the offshore marine sector, as well as the many different business streams and opportunities that are now available to large offshore construction vessel providers. These include offshore decommissioning, installation of offshore wind farms, transportation and marine casualty work such as salvage and wreck recovery. The talk will provide a unique opportunity for attendees to see video footage of some truly remarkable real-life projects.

This is our annual joint meeting with the Friends of Dundee Heritage Trust. Note that, as it is the Friends’ turn to host the event, it will take place at Discovery Point, Dundee, DD1 4XA.

Earth, timber, hemp and straw: the better way to build today

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 20 February 2025, 7.00 pm

Talk by Professor Fionn Stevenson

Buildings account for 40% of global carbon emissions today, and are drastically increasing climate change. How can we build more benignly? Biogenic construction offers an alternative set of robust materials to challenge the dominance of steel and concrete which are  a major source of pollution. If you think these natural materials don’t work in Scotland, come and discover the latest technology and design techniques that are available to ensure the high performance. This talk will introduce you to international and local exemplar buildings and products that can be used for both new buildings and retrofit projects, with a nod to some traditional techniques too.

Professor Fionn Stevenson is a well known sustainable design expert who has carried out extensive research into the use of natural materials in buildings. She developed Scotland’s first ever bioregional materials database, drawing on materials and products from the Highlands and Islands, and was previously chair of the Scottish Ecological Design Association.

This talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00 pm (19:00).  As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

The Wellgate Project: finding the stories of a street

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 16 January 2025, 7.00 pm

Talk by Dr Erin Farley

The Wellgate Project began when Adam Piggot, a Glasgow-based designer and artist, got in touch with the Local History Centre at Dundee Libraries with a creative idea inspired by his family history research. To mark fifty years since the demolition of the original Wellgate, Dundee Libraries began collecting memories of life and work in the street before its redevelopment. Erin Farley from Dundee Libraries’ Local History Centre will speak about the early history of the Wellgate, its importance in the growth of Dundee and its development into a busy city centre shopping street, as well as sharing some of the memories and stories collected through the project so far.

Dr. Erin Farley is the Library & Information Officer for the Local History Centre at Dundee Libraries, which holds a large and varied collection of books, manuscripts, images, oral histories and print ephemera. She is also a traditional storyteller. Erin completed a PhD thesis on working-class writing communities, The Place of Poetry in Victorian Dundee, at the University of Strathclyde in 2019.

The talk will take place as usual in Dundee Art Society’s Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00 pm (19:00). Guests are welcome and there will be an opportunity to chat over a glass of wine afterwards.

Change of use: how Dundee buildings have been adapted, saving embodied carbon, and yet retain a sense of place and purpose.

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 21 November 2024, 7.00 pm

Talk by Mark Watson of Historic Environment Scotland

(Joint event with Dundee Historic Environment Trust)

Reduce, re-use, recycle: a green city must use well the assets it has before building anew. How Dundee has adapted to changing economics and through good planning (yes, by Dundee City Council), much of its best historic architecture gives new vitality to the City of Design. Some buildings you’d scarcely notice, or wouldn’t miss until they are gone, and others are startlingly transformed. How that happened will be revealed in this illustrated talk.

A Dundonian, Mark Watson had the unique opportunity to negotiate and approve changes to the historic environment of Dundee over 14 years, added to four years listing buildings, for what is now Historic Environment Scotland (Industrial Heritage team, External Relations and Partnerships Directorate). He now works on industrial and engineering heritage in Scotland. The talk will cover those and other building types. He worked on managing change to historic buildings and areas across Scotland and is convenor of the Scotland branch of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). He wrote the nomination for New Lanark’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List and parts of that for the Forth Bridge. He researches textile history, industrial architecture and engineering heritage.

This talk will be the first of new series organised by Dundee Civic Trust jointly with Dundee Historic Environment Trust.

The talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00pm (19:00).  As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

The Big Back Garden: Baxter Park and its people

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 17 October 2024, 7.00 pm

Talk by Dr Jan Merchant

The Big Back Garden project is led by the University of Dundee’s Archive Services and explores the history of Baxter Park and its use. Central to the project were local communities who contributed their time, ideas and their memories of the Park.

This evening’s talk, by Dr Jan Merchant, Senior Archivist, University of Dundee Archive Services, will offer a brief history of the Park, describe the project and discuss the role of green spaces in our lives.

The talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00pm (19:00). As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

Nicoll Russell – Beyond Dundee

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Thursday 19 September 2024, 7.00 pm

Talk by Willie Watt

(Joint event with Dundee Institute of Architects)

Our Dundee Civic Trust winter evening talks restart on Thursday 19 September when Willie Watt, BSc(Hons) DIP ARCH, PPRIAS, RIBA, will expand upon Nicoll Russell Studios’ work outside Dundee.

The architectural practice of Nicoll Russell Studios will be well known to many members of Dundee Civic Trust for its broad range of work in Dundee including the ‘A Listed’ Dundee Rep, the city centre’s bus stops, Seabraes Bridge, Waters Edge, Dundee Station, The Space at Dundee and Angus College, Dundee Sheriff Court, Whitetops and Grianan alongside many less obvious buildings, houses, restaurants, cafes, bars and night clubs.

Dundee is the home of the practice but to achieve growth it has always been outward looking, winning and completing a range of projects across the UK which will form the basis of this talk.

Willie Watt became a partner at Nicoll Russell Studios in 2006 having joined the practice as an associate in 1999, and is a Past President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, an accredited conservation architect, an avid keeper of sketchbooks as well as a qualified mountain bike coach and leader.

This talk is the first of new series organised by Dundee Civic Trust jointly with Dundee Institute of Architects.

The talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00 pm (19:00).  As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

Mills Observatory and much more in our latest Newsflash

Posted on | by Neale Elder

Our June 2024 Newsflash contains a great range of items from our members and contributors to highlight the current influences on the Dundee urban scene.

The funding threat hanging over the Mills Observatory is one story; but on a more positive note you can read about the concept of Wee Forests in Dundee and the success that is Dundee Design Festival.

We hear about the recent High Street Summit facilitated by the Courier, of interest to anyone who cares about the fate of our central business district.

It was Steve Coogan’s alter ego Alan Partridge who famously objected to the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre; but did that hapless comedy character have a point? One of our contributors makes a thought-provoking case for ‘dialling back’ on the practice of eliminating vehicles from central streets.

All this and much more: read it here.

Eden Project Dundee approved

Posted on | by Neale Elder

With decontamination work already underway at the former gas works site on East Dock Street, Dundee City Council unanimously approved the Eden Project planning application on 17 June.

The Civic Trust utilised its position as a statutory consultee by making a deputation to the council. We are clear in our support for Eden Project Dundee and our statement to the councillors welcomed this bold and ambitious project, which contains contains potentially transformative developments. There is much to be commended in the exciting and thoughtful design proposals.

In terms of regeneration and sustainability, however, we believe there is a lack of ambition. Given the environmental credentials of the development, it ought to aim for Net Zero carbon as a primary objective, employing Passivhaus Premium principles and accepted targets for embodied carbon.

The basic approach to energy use is commendable, but we feel this is also rather unambitious. Eden should strive for greater energy self-sufficiency to help address the climate emergency. Additional means can be employed, including: more PV panels on the slope at Peep o’ Day Lane and elsewhere; vertical wind turbines; battery storage; and cooperating with future-technology energy companies to demonstrate that Eden is in the forefront of developments and design for self-sufficiency in energy.

Our main concerns, however, are about access to the site, which lies largely within the council’s responsibility to address and coordinate.

Private car travel (estimated to be 62% of visitors) is to discouraged, but it is not explained how this goal will be met. There will be congestion. Dropping off arrangements at Peep o’ Day Lane will need to be improved.

The provision of public transport will require robust arrangements with all travel providers for pricing, bus turning and parking, and Active Travel routes.

The dilapidated and unwelcoming condition of Seagate is worrying, as this will be much used by visitors.

The bridge over the road and railway line is a vital requirement from the opening date, to provide an appropriate statement entrance, as well as opening up the dock area. Access to it from the centre must be carefully planned to encourage visitors to use that route.

Foundry Lane is an obvious access point but significant issues of upgrading, access to buildings and traffic use must be addressed.

Peep o’ Day Lane may suit visitors from the north of the city, but with a steep path it is not wholly suitable for disabled drop off, arriving from the city centre, or for cycle access.

East Dock Street is wholly unsuitable for access, as it will be congested, noisy, cramped, dangerous and dirty, and not susceptible to upgrading. We are at a loss to understand why this is being proposed as a major pedestrian access route.

The Access Routes proposed for the Eden Project present major obstacles that must be resolved before the project is opened to the public.  It is the council’s responsibility to resolve these, in partnership with the Eden Project team and other stakeholders.

We have urged councillors to ensure that their officers are obliged to fully resolve these access issues prior to the start of the Eden Project on site.