300 ‘undulating’ homes to skirt Aberdeen’s Rubislaw Quarry
October 11 2017
Canadian developer Carttera has staged a public consultation into its latest development proposals for Rubislaw Quarry, drafting plans for 300 PRS flats, a bistro, walkway, function room and gym.Superceding a previously consented office block the latest plans, designed by the IBI Group with Aurora Planning, will improve access to the 140m deep flooded quarry by erecting a public promenade around its edge, with direct pedestrian connections to Hill of Rubislaw.
As part of the work the natural setting of the quarry would also be improved, with indigenous planting seen as ‘integral’ to the building.
Communicating their approach Carttera wrote: “The unique shape of the site was one of the main design drivers in the creative process, where the usable depth is severely limited by the edge of the quarry. Design options resulting in a long ‘bar-shaped’ scheme were intentionally avoided.
“Inspiration was drawn from natural landscapes such as the Three Sisters of Glencoe, where the profile of the hills is both linear and undulating. The other main design inspiration is to ‘stack’ the residential units in the same way as the blocks of granite cut from the quarry itself. The resultant of these two ideas is a long stretch of quarried blocks, rolling alongside the precipice they overlook.”
To celebrate the sites industrial heritage a permanent exhibition will be housed within the bistro, with photographs recording the active quarry in its heyday alongside key buildings which made use of its stone.
The scheme is being pitched in direct competition with a rival heritage centre, backed by local businessman Hugh Black, to which Carttera is implacably opposed.
Public feedback on the £68m scheme is welcomed at info@auroraplanning.com through to 17 October. A formal planning application is then expected by the end of the month.
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11 Comments
#1 Posted by Sir Ano on 11 Oct 2017 at 15:30 PM
Good one.
#2 Posted by Gringo on 11 Oct 2017 at 17:26 PM
Why the hell should local hills inspire housing?
Utter lies.
The statement should read:
"We saw what BIG are doing and thought we'd just do something like that"
All of the sizzle and none of the steak.
Utter lies.
The statement should read:
"We saw what BIG are doing and thought we'd just do something like that"
All of the sizzle and none of the steak.
#3 Posted by jimbob tanktop on 11 Oct 2017 at 18:10 PM
Weirdly, I like this. From the council who once turned down a proposal because it was 'bit Glasgow' too...
#4 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 11 Oct 2017 at 22:15 PM
A bit of Montreal's Habitat with a hint of Hundertwasser or is it just copying the Glasgow propensity to encourage plant life on the roof?
#5 Posted by Jim on 12 Oct 2017 at 09:26 AM
Ahh the Three Sisters of Glencoe, that famous Aberdeenshire landmark...
#6 Posted by That Guy on 12 Oct 2017 at 14:15 PM
Seeing how the developer is Toronto based, it seems that they ripped off BIG's Habitat 2.0 (King Street West and Wellington Street, Toronto)
A lot of similarities..
A lot of similarities..
#7 Posted by MV on 13 Oct 2017 at 10:04 AM
The only thing BIG about this, is the mistake. Take away the sun, lose the leaves from the trees (top and bottom), realise that the water is actually 20m below you and replace the good looking people with sunglasses - with mangled umbrellas and what are you left with? Bleak undulating concrete containers.
That being said, if its grey and bleak, it will probably fit comfortably into the Aberdeenshire vernacular...
That being said, if its grey and bleak, it will probably fit comfortably into the Aberdeenshire vernacular...
#8 Posted by boaby wan on 13 Oct 2017 at 10:19 AM
Grey and bleak are the right words here - I really don't think the architect has thought this one through, it's like a terrible costa del sol mega hotel that hasn't had the whitewash, has been landed in a place that never sees the sun.
this is our dystopian future
this is our dystopian future
#9 Posted by nomoregrey on 13 Oct 2017 at 12:32 PM
Where to start...
#10 Posted by QMD on 16 Oct 2017 at 14:06 PM
I like this, just need to add a bit of playful colours...
#11 Posted by jim dandy on 27 Oct 2017 at 09:45 AM
The most important things about a development are (1) the people living in and around it, and (2) the place. If it works in the context, it can be great. If you're looking for absolute originality - I would suggest snowflakes
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