Ruskin Lane Consulting Autumn 2014 | Page 3

WELCOME AHSS Autumn 2014 l No. 36 President Simon Green MA, FSA, FSA Scot Chairman Emma Griffiths Hon Treasurer Hamish Macbeth Editor Abigail Daly Ruskin Lane Consulting Reviews Editor Mark Cousins Design Pinpoint Scotland Ltd. NATIONAL OFFICE The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Riddle’s Court 322 Lawnmarket Edinburgh EH1 2PG T 0131 557 0019 E [email protected] www.ahss.org.uk © AHSS and contributors, 2014 The opinions expressed by contributors in this publication are not necessarily those of the AHSS. The Society apologises for any errors or inadvertent infringements of copyright. The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC007554. The Society is a registered Company Limited by Guarantee, No. SC356726. The AHSS gratefully acknowledges assistance from Historic Scotland towards the production costs of the AHSS Magazine. The AHSS gratefully acknowledges assistance from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland with archive image reproduction and towards production costs of the AHSS Magazine. T his autumn issue has a distinctly 'elemental' theme running through it. Subjects include Sumburgh Lighthouse, built to challenge Shetland's stormy waters, the earthy turf and stone structures of Iceland, and the sad, fiery events at the Glasgow School of Art. Time will tell whether the Land Reform Review Group's report is a breath of fresh air or becomes, well, just hot air. Our 'International Perspectives' series continues with two articles examining the conservation practices of two very different countries: Australia and China. Australia's favoured 'carrot' over 'stick' approach is an intriguing one, but it begs the question: how do planners strike the right balance between pragmatism and idealism? We are often taught to 'think big' and certainly there are many architects who have taken that mantra to heart with great success. However, this issue contains two articles that offer an alternative by exploring the value of small spaces. 'Hutting' in Scotland has never matched the popularity of similar movements in other European countries but a new campaign aims to change that and, hutters argue, bring the many social, health and cultural benefits of having a low-cost, 'escape' to the country. Coincidentally, Robyn Marsack, the author of this issue's 'My Favourite Building' feature, has chosen a structure that that shares many of the qualities hutters would recognise, albeit in a location almost as far from Scotland as it is possible to go. Her evocation of a friend's cabin expresses in suitably poetic terms why small can be beautiful, and why good architecture, however modest, is so vital. Abigail Daly contents 03 Editor’s Welcome 40 Book Reviews 04 View from the Chair 42 Activity Reports – Emma Griffiths 42 Historic Scotland 44 Royal Commission on the 06 Newsround 08 Forthcoming Events 14 Features 49 14 The Green Townscape 18 23 27 30 33 36 Cover image: A pillbox, North Berwick, identified as part of the Historic Scotland / RCAHMS World War I Audit Project. © Crown Copyright reproduced courtesy of Historic Scotland. 38 50 Heritage Initiative, Aberdeen Icelandic turf and stone construction Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve Hutting in Scotland Considering conservation in China Australia: the use of carrots over sticks Scotland’s Third National Planning Framework & Scottish Planning Policy The Scottish Land Reform Review Group Report AUTUMN 2014 51 Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland Built Environment Forum Scotland Scottish Civic Trust Members Area 51 Spotlight 52 National Study Tour 56 Activities 62 Casework 66 My Favourite Building – Robyn Marsack 67 Programme of Events I THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND I 3