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Architect hits back at accusation of producing mediocre work

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Published Date: 14 August 2008
PROLIFIC architect Allan Murray has hit back at claims he puts "mediocrity before imagination or beauty" to win favour with Edinburgh planners.
Former Scottish Arts Council chairman and columnist Magnus Linklater accused Mr Murray, the mastermind behind projects such as Caltongate, Edinburgh Park and the St James Quarter, of producing "bland and undistinguished" architecture which is out of step with the "elegance of older-style Edinburgh".

Mr Murray denied his designs were mediocre, saying they are subjected to "intense scrutiny by the prospective clients, judging panels or our peers".

He added: "These same projects are also closely scrutinised by the City of Edinburgh planning officials and councillors, Historic Scotland and the Scottish Government's design advisor group Architecture & Design Scotland and in many cases through detailed public consultation.

"A number of our high-profile projects also have the benefit of being collaborative efforts."





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  • Last Updated: 14 August 2008 10:01 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Edinburgh planning issues
 
1

Buttress,

14/08/2008 12:14:02
Magnus Linklater was absolutely right. Stick to designing tower blocks for the US Mr Murray. Masterplanning (Caltongate...) he may do - but he's no mastermind. Simply because officials pass your designs doesn't make any of it great architecture, suitable for a World Heritage Site, or suitable for the historic surroundings - most of it is clone town, bland and anyplace.



www.eh8.org.uk and read the blog via the link - which has the article in question.
2

Old Town Resident,

edinburgh 14/08/2008 12:38:44
original article here -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/magnus_linklater/article4517781.ece
3

keyjeysi,

Edinburgh 14/08/2008 15:07:34
Mr Murray uses chances for building the best what system allows him to design. His designs are the results of compromises between Edinburgh’s groups of interest and overload of restrictions. They are plain and noisy in the places where they should fulfill the part of the historical context.
4

H Callahan,

14/08/2008 19:59:54
I've heard that the good man himself is not very approachable. People in his office work for long hours in silence and tension. Not the happiest of crews on his ship.

All in all there seems to be one or two bad vibes about this guy and his work.
5

Seb,

14/08/2008 20:43:51
Hasn't he just made a bunch of them redundant without a warning?
6

Buttress,

14/08/2008 22:14:11
Is that as well as Malcolm Fraser?
7

DAVID,

Edinburgh 15/08/2008 12:26:11
I'm in total agreement with Magnus Linklater on this one.

Mediocre, middle-of-the-road, cloned rubbish. It could be architecture for any city in Britain, Europe, the world.

If he had any architectural talent he might be genuinely developing a new Scottish or Edinburgh vernacular, but that's obviously beyond him. So I doubt our great-grandchildren will be looking back on his buildings in 100 years time with any real affection unlike the Adams, Greek Thomson, Rennie Macintosh and many other British architects who left a genuine legacy.

 

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