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Summary

Description

Basil Spence and Partners, 1948-51 (Basil Spence, partner-in-charge; Hardie Glover, job architect; Andrew Renton, designer; Bruce Robertson, partner in charge; Sarah McCosh; Bill Rowarth; James Beveridge, Richard Cassidy). Modernist with vernacular references housing development; 3 storeys, rectangular-plan with 2-storey angled block to left; part of a municipal housing development near harbour. Cavity brick construction, predominantly painted harl with red sandstone random rubble at ground floor E and N elevation, forestairs and base course to W elevation. Concrete walkway, treads, balconies and projecting narrow cills; iron balustrades. Some raised windows in architraves.

E (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: flatted ground floor with 3 bays to right advanced to form exterior entrance walkway at 1st floor to maisonettes and angled block; dog-leg exterior stair to left; vennel beneath top landing of stair. Single entrance door with original glazed sidelight to left at 1st floor (No. 5.); single entrance doors with half glazed sidelight to right of centre at ground and 1st floor; single entrance door to centre of angled block. Balcony to right of centre at 2nd floor.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: irregular fenestration; random rubble section separating some windows.

Variety of replacement glazing and doors. Pantiled roofs; harled and coped ridge and end stacks with cylindrical clay cans.

INTERIORS (partially seen 2010): simple plan-forms of flats and maisonettes intact.

Statement of Special Interest

-Group consisting of Nos 1-6 Harbour Court, Nos 3-9 Victoria Place, 12-30, 15A-15D and 19A-19C Victoria Street, Nos 8-12 Writer's Court, Nos 1-4 Buncles Court and Nos 30-38 Lamer Street (see separate list entries).

The design of this post-war municipal housing development near Victoria Harbour is a skilful blend of the modern idiom with the vernacular of Scotland's East Coast fishing villages. Modern thin iron railings, picture windows, projecting concrete balconies and coloured harl are combined with the traditions of ground floor stores with forestairs giving access to dwellings above, and natural materials such as red sandstone bases and slate, a physical and intentionally visible combination of old and new. Arranged in informal picturesque groupings this scheme provided a model for Scottish burgh redevelopment in the 1950s and 1960s. This scheme has subsequently been labelled "...an exemplar of urban conservation" (Edwards, p39), and assisted in establishing Spence as a key figure in urban housing architecture.

These properties are part of a group of 20 houses which comprise the first phase of post-war development around Victoria Harbour by the prolific Scottish architect Basil Spence. The second phase consisted of 9 properties at Lamer Street and Buncles Court. Spence, with former partner, William Kinninmonth, had already begun redevelopment of the harbour area with a terrace of houses, 12-30 Victoria Street, in 1935. Immediately after WWII, Spence began work on a large new housing scheme for Dunbar at the Summerfield site and by 1948 plans were being prepared for 20 houses at the harbour side as well. Additional funding was provided as part of the government's attempt to develop the east coast fisheries ' priority for housing was given to fishermen. But character was also deemed important as Dunbar promoted itself as a tourist destination. This is arguably Basil Spence's best-known Scottish work, due partly to his famous aerial perspective, which captivated the imagination of both the public and the architectural press.

The success of the scheme was acknowledged with a Saltire housing award in 1952 and similar commissions for Spence for the regeneration of Newhaven, Cramond and Culross, although only Newhaven was carried through to execution. Both respectful of their surroundings and both promoting the importance of the past whilst meeting contemporary needs and looking to the future, Dunbar and Newhaven established Spence as a key figure in post-war urban architecture.

Sir Basil Spence was one of Scotland's most accomplished and prolific 20th century architects. He leapt to prominence during the Festival of Britain in 1951 as chief architect for the Exhibition of Industrial Power in Glasgow. Some of his most renowned works include Coventry Cathedral and the British Embassy in Rome. The practice was also profuse in the design of housing schemes, such as Great Michael Rise, Newhaven, Edinburgh (1957-9) and Canongate, Edinburgh (1961-9) (see separate listings).

Many of the original windows and doors have been replaced with a variety of materials and glazing patterns. The original glazing pattern predominantly consisted of casement windows flanking a fixed pane window with top hung hopper and fully glazed sidelights to the doors. It is evident in photographs taken after completion from the Sir Basil Spence Collection and Spence, Glover & Ferguson Collection.

Listed as part of the Sir Basil Spence thematic listing survey (2009-11).

References

Bibliography

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