Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall and Partners 1965-1970 (Blyth & Blyth, structural engineers; Crudens, contractors). 4-storey, 6-bay, L-plan, arts faculty building, forming part of university faculty group in Modernist style, set on stepped concrete podium with square-plan single storey lecture theatre inserted into re-entrant angle. Ground rising to N, the level of the podium level merges with that of street on ground rising to N, halfway along George Square to E. Reinforced concrete construction with brick infill. Clad in York stone slabs; boarded ceilings to surrounding portico. Recessed corners at ground floor level creating entrance porches to E (George Square) elevation. Horizontal bands of timber-framed windows wrapped around the building to upper floors. Lecture block has narrow band of glazing just below parapet and a pair of escape doors.

INTERIOR: stairs provide link to other arts faculty buildings at sub-podium level, but no basement of its own. Lecture theatre is sunken and top floor has pair of light wells that double as gardens. Timber joinery and plaster walls throughout.

Statement of Special Interest

A-Group with David Hume Tower (Block A) and David Hume Lecture Block (Block B); Adam Ferguson Building (Block D); George Square Theatre (Block E) (see separate list descriptions). (Also see David Hume Tower list description for full details of the commission and Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall's involvement. The David Hume Tower listing also includes a full description of the stepped podium.)

The Arts Faculty group is one of the key monuments of Scottish Modernism and represents both the aspirations of the nation for its post-war Higher Education system and the ideals of some of Scotland's premier architects. Since then, the David Hume Tower has become one of the city's landmarks and, along with the Appleton Tower (see separate listing), a distinctive feature on the skyline. The architecture is of a very high standard of design and execution and the materials, especially in the tower, are of exceptional quality.

Although there have been redecoration and refurbishment of offices to the William Robertson Building, most of the original fixtures and fittings are still intact, including the timber wall linings of the lecture theatre (June 2004).

Additional glazed storey added (circa 2012-14).

Statutory address updated (2015). Previously listed as '42 George Square, University of Edinburgh, Arts Faculty, William Robertson Building (Block C)'.

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.

Images