4 July 2022 Monday - Aberdeen Art Gallery

Image courtesy of Hoskins Architects 

We did not do much research about Aberdeen before travelling there. We had never been and figured that everything would be new and a 'discovery' provided we did some exploring. After a big lunch with Fiona and Noel, and still talking about the surprise of a jeep to Sara - we wandered past the Marischal College (the biggest granite building in Aberdeen) onto Schoolhill. We were just remarking how grey the streetscape was when we happened upon the entrance to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. 

The central atrium has been 'lifted' up by an additional floor, creating a lofty sunlit space. The additions are expressed as separate elements, the staircase connecting all the atrium floors inserted into the existing structure like dark timber origami. 

At the top most floor, there is a door leading to the roof terrace carved out by a good in the new ribbed copper facade. 

Next to this door was a small poster, telling us about the architect for this refurbishment - Gareth Hoskins.  He set up Hoskins Architects in Glasgow in 1998 and won UK Architect of the Year in 2006 and Scottish Architect of the Year in 2009.

He died in 2016, he was 48.

The entry was formerly the sculpture courtyard, with a circular skylight. This has been extended by one storey. 

A new square skylight framed with a circular occulus below to follow the atrium circular plan. 

The topmost floor opens to a roof terrace, which offers views of the neighbourhood. 

McBey

The staircase connecting all the atrium floors inserted into the existing structure like dark timber origami.