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Weird and wonderful

Modern marvels

Scotland has many examples of contemporary architecture. Below is a selection of sites which illustrate the best that modern buildings have to offer – inspiring spaces innovatively designed.

Highlights

The Institute for Medical Science and Technology

18.09.10 (10.00-16.00)

1 Wurzburgh Loan, Dundee, DD2 1FD

Description

The Institute for Medical Science and Technology - Image 1

The Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSaT) is housed in a modern building which is completely undistinguished externally but which has been designed internally to support integrated facilities for modern medical and life-sciences research including nanobiology, photonics, ultrasound, surgical technology and pre-clinical magnetic resonance imaging. Its combined operating room and MRI facility is particularly unusual and, with features just beginning to be included in hospitals, provides an exciting glimpse of how buildings may be configured to optimise future surgery.

Activities

N/A

Modern marvels

Facilities

The Space: Theatre and Dance Facility, Dundee College

18.09.10 (Pre-booked tour at 10.30)

Old Glamis Road / Kingsway, Dundee, DD3 8LE

Description

The Space: Theatre and Dance Facility, Dundee College - Image 1

Scotland's first dedicated School of Contemporary Dance incorporates a flexible theatre space specifically designed for dance performance, together with studios and educational facilities. The building has been designed to allow community use in parallel with its academic purpose.

Activities

Bookings for the Tour at The Space will be taken with effect from Monday 23rd August 2010 - details to follow.

Please note that the organisers may refuse access if you have not pre-booked the tour.

Modern marvels

Facilities

Grove Academy

18.09.10 (10.00-12.00)

24 Claypotts Road, Broughty Ferry

Description

Grove Academy has been established in Broughty Ferry for 120 years and now the long awaited new school is open. This building has been designed to provide a positive learning and teaching environment for the 21st century with bright classrooms, science laboratories, swimming pool and games hall with community facilities.

Activities

Prefects and PTA members will give a guided tour of the school showing off a variety of classrooms and facilities to groups of visitors. Refreshments and souvenirs will be provided in the dining hall where photographs of the old and new schools can be viewed.

Modern marvels

Facilities

Dundee Central Mosque

18.09.10 - 19.09.10 (11.00-16.00)

6 Miln Street (opposite Tay Mills), Blackness, Dundee, DD1 5BZ

Description

First purpose built Mosque in North-East Scotland, built using traditional Scottish materials and energy efficient construction techniques. The Mosque is rich in Islamic symbolism and includes two prayer halls built facing Makkah, three Wuzu (ablution) areas and above the Minbar (pulpit) is a copper dome, both symbolic and for light.

Activities

Open Saturday and Sunday 11.00am-4.00pm. Short 10 min presentations (a day in a life of a Muslim) at 12.30 and 2.30pm. Free Food and refreshments, exhibitions, guided tours, stalls, leaflets, prayer demonstrations and free parking on site. See the Mosques website: www.cityofdiscovery.net for further information.

Modern marvels

Facilities

Maggie's Centre

18.09.10 (10.00-16.00)

Ninewells Hospital, Tom McDonald Avenue, Dundee, DD2 1NH

Description

Cancer caring centre designed by internationally renowned architect. As Gehry's only UK building, Maggie's Centre has his signature curving walls and undulating stainless steel roof, its form considered derivative of the Scottish broch. Its landmark tower contains a library and tiny sitting area above, with fabulous views over Invergowrie Bay. Recipient of numerous architectural and building awards.

Activities

Centre is open for viewing and teas and coffees. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to talk about the building.

Modern marvels

Facilities

Aberdeen Sports Village

11.09.10 (10.00-16.00)

Linksfield Road, Aberdeen

Description

The North East’s state of the art indoor sports centre with a huge range of facilities all under one roof. Have you ever seen a full size indoor football pitch?

Activities

One of the 2010 Royal Institute of British Architect’s Award Winners.

Photo © Reiach & Hall Architects

Modern marvels

Facilities

Aviva, Pitheavlis

25.09.10 - 26.09.10 (10.30-14.00)

Necessity Brae, Pitheavlis, Perth, PH2 0NH

Description

Originally built between 1979 and 1983 as the world headquarters for General Accident, and designed by James Parr and Associates, this unique five storey ‘deep’ open plan office is rather like a chest of drawers built into the Perthshire hillside, with each drawer pulled out slightly further than the one above. These modern architectural features combine to provide an excellent working environment for over 1700 staff at Aviva Insurance, the biggest life and general insurer in the UK.

Activities

Highlights include roof gardens, the rosewood boardroom, ponds, kinetic and stone sculptures. Pre-booking essential - please contact PKHT (01738) 477082.

Modern marvels

Facilities

Inveralmond Brewery

25.09.10 (11.00-17.00)

1 Inveralmond Way, Perth, PH1 3UQ

Description

Inveralmond has been brewing beer since May 1997 and from February this year have been housed in a new purpose-built brewery on the northern approaches to Perth. Find out more about the Scottish cultural themes that link all the brewery’s products.

Activities

Learn about the fine ingredients used in the brewing process and try a small sample of some of the award winning beers during tutored tastings. You must be 18 or older to participate in tastings. Located at Inveralmond Industrial Estate just north-west of Perth off the A9.

Food glorious food, Modern marvels

Facilities

Moncreiffe Island Allotments

25.09.10 - 26.09.10 (10.30-17.00)

Moncreiffe Island, Perth

Description

The allotments on Moncreiffe or Friarton Island are one of Perth’s best kept secrets, hidden away in peaceful natural settings at the north end of the island. Only a few minutes walk from the town centre, the plots are owned by Perth and Kinross Council and run by the Perth Working Men’s Garden Association. Established in 1902, the allotments’ pavilion was gifted by A K Bell in 1938. See Perth’s only working cast iron hand-pump, and enjoy views of the riverside whilst strolling amongst the varied plots of flowers and vegetables.

Activities

See Perth’s only working cast iron hand-pump, and enjoy views of the riverside whilst strolling amongst the varied plots of flowers and vegetables. Moncreiffe Island can be reached from Tay Street via the railway footbridge. No Wheelchair access.

Green Doors, Modern marvels

Facilities

Scottish Hydro Pitlochry Visitor Centre

25.09.10 (10.00-17.30)

Port-na-Craig, Pitlochry, PH16 5ND

Description

Scottish Hydro Pitlochry Visitor Centre - Image 1

The architectural elements of this huge civil engineering scheme were designed by Harold Tarboulton in 1953 and comprise the most visible part of the vast Tummel Garry Hydro Electric scheme covering 750 square miles of central Perthshire.

The dam holds back the man-made Loch Faskally and has two massive gates, which control the water level.

Activities

Visitors can walk across the public footpath spanning the dam and see the turbine hall where the generators are housed. Last entry at 17.00.

Industry, Modern marvels

Facilities

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