Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Jenkins and Marr, 1885; substantially remodelled by City Architects Department, 1920. Long rectangular plan building with asymmetrical classical 2-storey, 7-bay principal elevation; single storey (predominantly double-height) to rear. Tooled coursed granite ashlar with finely finished margins to principal elevation; coursed granite rubble, Aberdeen bond in some areas, to remainder. Bull-faced base course; ground floor cill course; dividing band between ground and 1st floors; 1st floor cill course; band course above 1st floor; eaves cornice / band.

SE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: to centre, advanced 3-bay pedimented central block; to ground floor, to centre bay, pilastered and architraved doorpiece with stone steps leading to modern glazed door; to left and right bays, corniced single windows. To 1st floor, to centre bay, bipartite corniced window flanked to left and right bays by corniced single windows; to centre of pediment, blind oculus with moulded surround. To left of central block, stepped down recessed 2-bay linking section; to left bay, large opening with glazed doors and infill screen, modern glazed canopy above; to right bay, single windows to ground and 1st floors. To far left, advanced single-bay pavilion with shallow segmentally-arched opening, with modern glazing infill, to ground floor; single window to 1st floor. To right of central block, recessed single bay block with pediment to centre flanked by lower shaped skews; to centre, double-height basket-arched opening with raised bull-faced long and short quoins and voussoirs, infilled by modern glazed screen and door; modern glazed canopy between ground and 1st floors.

To far right, single storey flat-roofed section; Aberdeen-bond granite ashlar; door to centre.

NW (REAR) ELEVATION: formed of 2 gables; advanced gable to left of predominantly modern construction; blank gable to right.

NE (SIDE) ELEVATION: predominantly blank elevation; advanced to left, 5-bay single-storey building (see above).

SW (SIDE) ELEVATION: predominantly blank; advanced section to right; modern brick lean-to extension to ground floor to left.

GLAZING etc: predominantly modern glazing in metal frames. Predominantly grey slate pitched roofs; some corrugated roof coverings to rear; predominantly stone skews. Corniced masonry wallhead stacks to left and right of central block; corniced gable-head apex stack to rear of central block.

INTERIOR: to interior of centre block, dog-leg stair with ornate cast-iron balusters to upper flight and landing; some timber panelling to stair and landing; to 1st floor landing, pilastered and architraved round-arched opening. Remainder of interior now largely open plan, with modern additions and mezzanine floor.

Statement of Special Interest

Listed for its architectural contribution to the streetscape and for local social and historical value.

Jenkins and Marr originally built 179 Constitution Street as public swimming baths, including two pools (a first class pool and a second class pool) with dressing boxes flanking each. A gallery overlooked the pools.

The swimming baths were extensively remodelled to form a tramway depot in 1920. Aberdeen's tramway network was one of the most progressive and up-to-date in Britain until its closure in 1955. Three tramway companies shared the city's network: Aberdeen District Tramways Co, Aberdeen Corporation Tramways and Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Co. Aberdeen District Tramways established horse lines in 1874, which were electrified and extended during 1899-1902.

In 2000-2001, 179 Constitution Street underwent change of use and alterations to become the Satrosphere science education centre.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.