A Serious look at architecture
Clare Henry reviews the record of the first ten years of a leading Glasgow architectural practice
TO CELEBRATE their first ten years, Stallan-Brand, the renowned international architecture practice based in Glasgow have published a magnificent book. It's a serious book, hence its title, SERIOUS.
Illustrated with beautiful drawings, designs, plans, sections and photographs for around 20 civic, historic, commercial, residential and urban projects including Glasgow's High Street, SWG3, Commonwealth Games Village and St Bride's, along with Jedburgh and the Helsinki Guggenheim, it is in fact an historic document. Introduced with a memorable essay by Gordon Murray, RIAS President, it sets out the Stallan-Brand philosophy: to do the best work they could.
Paul Stallan and Alistair Brand met at Strathclyde University and began working together in 1995. But running your own practice as a successful business is, they admit, 'A tough gig.' "Apart from being skilled designers, collectively we need to be expert in building technology, procurement, software application, negotiation, politics, commercial property development, construction, HR - and finance."
They cut their teeth working for a big firm on a global level including the Middle East, USA and Africa. They went solo with no financial backing, no staff. Now they have big open plan premises in Nicholson Street, with around 35 people.
Anyone who follows Paul on Instagram will know that his travels produce illuminating history and geography lessons, along with fascinating architects' bios and forensic detail, allied with admiration for clarity, formal rigour and social conscience. Research is vital, and I feel sure he loves it. OH! And models! Model-making, trial and error forms an important part of their practice.
SERIOUS covers all sorts - from night-time lighting to fire escapes, Aberdeen's public gardens to the Tron's cherub skull by artist Kenny Hunter. They often involve artists in their work. And schools are a speciality. There are some lucky youngsters in the Borders who will benefit from some imaginative joyful architecture.
Architects play an important role in our lives, never more than today. So with many of Glasgow's best buildings getting old and frail, their now 150 year old bones deteriorating fast, how can architects like Stallan-Brand help the city?
With VAT on all restoration, it's cheaper, to build new - but also very sad. Regeneration - of the Merchant City, Candleriggs, of conservation areas, Tradeston, of historic buildings, Gothic ironwork, Victorian sculpture, is vital to Glasgow. Politics must not be allowed to get in the way. Glasgow has long been famous for its iconic Victorian architecture. We must not lose it all to mere bureaucracy, party politics and VAT.
This is a wonderful book, a glorious record of past triumphs. Stallan-Brand are used to collaborating world-wide. As they themselves say, "We promote intelligent architecture, striving for simple solutions to complex projects."
Let's hope they can solve Glasgow's current problems, prevent it slipping further down the slope, instill some optimism where now lies despair
PORTRAIT - Stallan-Brand
