Around Town
Hit
# Glasgow International Highland Cattle Show Highland coos are the embodiment of the stereotypical Scottish male; ginger and horny. See these fine beasts in all their glory at the largest competition of its kind in the world.
Pol/0k Country Park, Glasgow, Sat 24 Sept
* Amnesty International Evening: Marielos Monzon Top Guatemalan human rights journalist Monzdn comes to talk about the persecution and intimidation that reporters faced by reporters trying to expose corruption in her country. Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, Fri 23 Sep. It Doors Open Day: Anatomy Lecture Theatre If you’ve not got five highers, this is your chance to have a nosey in the place where doctors of the future learn about how your insides work. University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Sat 24 Sep.
3 An Audience with . . . Take your seats to listen to three very different chaps. Favourite specky film buff Barry Norman; clever. cuddly, newsy John Sergeant and courageous. strong and indefatigable George Galloway. Citizen’s Theatre, 779 Gorbals Street Glasgow, Wed 28—Fri 30 Sep.
What sin
Granil Desig
We don’t need marketing spin to tell us our cities are stylish, the SCOTTISH DESIGN FAIR looks outwith the metropolis and to the future, says Tim Abrahams.
e’re supposed to be more design literate these days. aren’t we'.’ You would think so from the wealth of design-related (hanging Rooms-style programming dominating the telly. In Scotland. it‘s only six years since (ilasgow revelled in the title ot‘ ‘(‘ity ol‘ Architecture and Design‘ and only four years since the Scottish lixecutive launched a
Policy for Architecture. A walk round the centre of
(ilasgow will also show you that the council's marketing department really doesn't need to trumpet itsell’ with a mawkish ‘Scotland with Style. campaign. the city is doing very well by itsell‘. Our two main cities have an identifiable style.
However what is happening at a very narrow end of
the market place. in our urban centres. is not what is happening throughout the rest ot‘ Scotland. The aim ol~ the Scottish Design Show. which is the lirst event of its kind to be held in Scotland. is primarily to see whether Scotland can take good design beyond the limits of a small group ol‘ people who work. live and play in our urban centres. The Design Show is not simply a place for manufacturers to exhibit their wares (although there will he desirable goodies on display). It‘s also a place where the future of Scotland will be discussed.
Two exhibitions will attempt to reassess our architectural heritage in Scotland. It has been common amongst architecture critics to assume that Scotland went through an architectural renaissance in the ‘)()s‘ and nothing ol‘ any real worth was built for a long time previously. The ‘l()() Best Buildings‘ built in the last 50 years looks set to knock that theory on the head. Alongside that the shortlist tor the (‘arbuncles Award will he examples ol‘ the most dismal towns and worst buildings in Scotland. The implicit question being. are we concentrating on
prestige building projects to the detriment of those in which the majority ol‘ Scottish people actually live'.’ The awards are particularly relevant as members ol. the public can put l‘orward their nominations.
The show lets the major stakeholders in Scotland’s l'uture. give us some idea of the way they are thinking. The Scottish lixecutive will launch a new exercise that will ‘give an exciting visualisation ol‘ how Scotland may look in 2020’. says Sue Stirling. the principal planner at the lixecutive’s development department. (‘Iydebank Rebuilt. one of Scotland's three urban regeneration companies. has employed some of the west coast's best architects in the early phases ol‘ the project to redevelop the town. They are now in a position to market land along the river. and their presence at the Design Show will give us some idea ol‘ how Scotland is dealing with its indtistrial heritage.
Part of the show's purpose is to examine whether there can be distinctly Scottish solutions to Scottish pl‘ohlettls. This is the central thrust to a couple ol~ the debates and discussions. Richard Williams. author ol the :ill.\‘i()1(.\' ('i'rv will question whether the l’oreign models ol‘ city living are appropriate l‘or contemjmrary Scotland. whilst ('arol (‘raig will talk about the psychological attachments to a place.
The event is open to building design prol‘essionals and anyone with an interest in the future ol‘ Scotland’s built environment.
The Scottish Design Show will be held at the Tramway in Glasgow on Thu 6 and Fri 7 Oct. For more information about events go to www.scottishdesignshow.co.uk. To nominate a town or building for the Carbuncles Awards go to www.prospectmagazine.com/carbuncles.
fi-‘l W T. THE LIST 25