Aberdeen's Best and Worst Buildings

[@370DatsunZed]

Superb little film!!! I came to Aberdeen in 1994 as a student....your research is fantastic..I knew quite a lot (my wife's Gran was an oracle) but I have learnt a few new things...wish "gran" was still with us as she loved going through Aberdeen history....Thanks

[@johngreenwood5565]

I played with my band in the Palace in 1995, once we finished sound checking in the afternoon the night club manager took us for a tour of the building, the downstairs nightclub is basically a box in the middle of the old theatre, we went to the top of the building through a door way onto a full balcony complete with seating, you could also see the stage at the other end of the room and the old theatre decor.

[@Andrononymous]

First year international student here: Your videos bring me a very interesting perspective into the local history and culture and as an anthropology student I find it very fascinating. I had always wondered why the city council seemed to have such a bad reputation with the locals but now I am able to completely feel their pain. Aberdeen is beautiful and it could be so much more than what it is. I was always a little confused by the weird city centre planning but this video does give me some insights into it. I was surprised that you did not mention some of the...very mediocre looking university buildings behind the beautiful "façade".... Also the zoology building in Tillydrone- Soviet Russia that is all I'm going to say lol. Btw, the library (dubbed hilariously by the older students as the "rice cube") has its fair share of memes among the students, from the toilets (those who know, know) to the "holes" in the inside robbing valuable study space that is already tight. I have to admit two positives though, the view is spectacular from the top floor and I seldom get lost in old Aberdeen because the library is...very visible let's say.

[@duthies]

Hi An. Schw. L.홋 - I think up and down this country people generally speaking have a low opinion of their local council. There are always potholes, there are always issues with bin uplifts, public amenities not properly maintained etc - and then you have the complaints of those in social housing which is an entire issue all on it's own. But Aberdeen City council seems to have a particularly bad pattern of complaining that they are underfunded while spending millions on vanity projects in recent years. It's not helped by the fact that the current administration is made up mostly of 2 ideologically incompatible parties that did not do well in the last vote but banded together to make a coalition to stay in power. I agree, Aberdeen has many mediocre buildings and many brutalist buildings that most find ugly (but I find oddly fascinating from a historical perspective - the Zoology building is one - if you want another reason to hate it though it collapsed during construction and killed a bunch of people) - my bottom 5 for this video was based on a choice of buildings which I felt had compelling reasons to be on that list and make an interesting video. The town planning of Aberdeen is covered a little in my other videos - basically, historically all routes lead to Union Street - the turnpike at the top of the street leads to Alford in one direction (Alford Pl) historically home of the Aberdeen Angus cattle breed, and Holburn street the route to the south, also branching off at Broomhill as the route to Deeside. St Nicholas Street led to Inverurie and would have been a major agricultural route, King Street led to the fishing towns in the North, and Market Street led to the Harbour. This is why it is so hard to do what the council are currently trying to do - block off Union Street as a thoroughfare by pedestrianising it.

[@Monsoon-r5n]

Lived in shire for a long time and it ain’t special

[@travelconfident]

Love that so many of these places are tucked away, means they don't get quite as busy!

[@pamelaadam9207]

I kinda like the borg cube. When it reflects sunrise and sunset

[@duthies]

It's all a matter of taste - I think it would reflect the sunrise better without the wavy green panels. I'd like to think that the panels are easily replaceable, relatively speaking, and hopefully they go for a better design when it comes time for the building's midlife refurbishment (eg NESCOL's recent recladding).

[@CavemanNinja]

It's a brilliant building. Beautiful inside and out. Air conditioning is a bit shit at times, but it's a great building to look at.

[@GpLd]

Fantastic video as usual! Thank you Duthies! 👍🏼 As someone who has moved from Aberdeen about 15 years ago I still have a massive interest in the city. I also used to frequent Exodus and went to school across the road from Triple Kirks so I’m dumbfounded by what’s been built here! 🤯 There are no words… As for Marischal Square - wow! Just what Aberdeen needed 🙈 ANOTHER grey building! Disregarding the unfortunate truth that it was built at all, it almost feels like it’s squaring up for a fight with the college both in proximity and scale! And why do Aberdeen planners shy so heavily away from colour!? The vernacular is no longer “granite from Rubislaw” so add some excitement and interest to the streets with coloured render and different materials for god’s sake! This would make the stunning granite architecture POP by means of visual contrast and make it stand out instead of blending in to a backdrop of fake granite 90s flats and modern office buildings. Until planners require architectural or design training I guess we’ll always be at their ignorant mercy… 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@duthies]

Thanks Greig - yes the council just seems to be driven by "broon envelopes" these days, no pride in the city just let folks chuck up whatever half baked idea that makes most money for shareholders in the short term. They've just put up 'for let' signs for the small retail units they've built in Union Terrace Gardens - you can now see them in the flesh and the materials they've used look so cheap and tacky. That's not shown in the renderings. More crap to detract from an otherwise fair city.

[@IdeasofJames]

It took me an embarrassingly long time to realise that you have to look up to see a lot of Aberdeen's beauty. You have so many great choices on this list for the good and bad and all the extra little bits of information really helps. These videos are great, really enjoying them. Keep up the good work 🙂. Although I think the post office building would have been my winner 😜

[@duthies]

The post office is a hidden gem - but sadly not a very interesting building beyond the aesthetic - I would have liked to have said more about it. Thank you for the kind comments - and to you with your channel - I think I'm going to learn a bit more about the post office through some badly drawn history :)

[@IdeasofJames]

@@duthies You're welcome and thank you I hope you enjoy it. Yes, I think the post office building appeals to me because it is a bit hidden. Plus, I also can't help wondering how it would've looked inside when it was operational. The other building I would like to have seen in operation is the old savings bank on George Street.

[@scottishflute3444]

Hi, I really enjoyed the video - keep it up. One pedantic point on columns - Flat top - Doric, Curly top (like rams hons) - Ionic, Leaves (usually acanthus) - Corinthian Can't wait for the next one !

[@duthies]

Yeah you’re the third person to highlight that 😂 - I put ‘doric’ in as a placemarker in the script meaning to go back and clarify those details … all part of the learning process! That’s a good rule of thumb I’ll keep it in mind in future. Thanks for the comment!

[@thinfourth]

2 years later Marshall square is half empty and the council is bankrupt

[@duthies]

The £1.3 mil Revolution X fiasco is quite damning - funding a loan on the taxpayer's coin that the banks deemed too risky just to get another unit filled. The company went under - unsure if we will ever see that money again. I'm aghast that so much public resources have been ploughed into trying to save face and pretend that this development was not an awful idea from the beginning. Why can't politicians just stand up and admit when they're wrong? I'd actually have a decent amount of respect for them if they did.

[@R3troguy]

The sooner Marischal Square is demolished, the better.

[@duthies]

Should have never gone ahead - it's annoying to think of all the outdoor events we're going to miss out on because we have nowhere to host them over the next 3 decades.

[@austenkeith8891]

If the Council's plans for the old BHS Building & Aberdeen Market come to fruition you may well have a new contender for your Top 5 worst buildings in Aberdeen list. The infuriating thing is they still have the old Archie Simpson Aberdeen Market facade stored somewhere, they could knock down the 60's eyesore Market building and restore the Market to it's former glory and put some soul back into Aberdeen City Centre, but instead they want another glass box to blight the landscape arrrrggghh!!! Great video though thanks for the upload.

[@duthies]

I have also heard the same stories about the granite from Archie's market being in storage at a quarry somewhere. But - with granite suitable for dressage being so rare in the world today, and the fact that granite for Marischal Square was actually imported from China, I fear it may be lost :( I've seen the plans for the market - knock a few stories off and it might be acceptable but as it is, it's going to look ridiculous from St Nicholas Square. Hopefully as much will come of it as the Douglas Hotel plans to erect an equally gargantuan glass box behind their hotel (lodged about 10 years ago and thankfully nothing's come of it). Thanks for the comment!

[@SamWatsonTV]

What do you think of the new market plan? (A borough market style walkthrough)

[@duthies]

​@@SamWatsonTV The new market plan that I think you're referring to, which hopefully deprecates the other recent plan to build another office block in place of the market, looks decent and I really hope that goes through - the market has given Aberdeen some great businesses eg Hong Hong and Madame Mews - we need places like this for new businesses to get a chance to flourish!

[@watchcub]

We need full accountability from our councillors - time they paid for their mistakes.

[@nihkhdtigerson1599]

If only such a thing were possible. Being able to go through with a plan that your residents don't agree with should be a criminal act. Aberdeen had a lot of promise until they tried to be like Edinburgh or Glasgow and totally messed that up. x:x

[@seenic0]

Fantastic video. Really enjoyed it

[@duthies]

Thank you Joe!

[@arthursmapping6686]

Terrific Video, the council is so stupid, leave the building empty or partly demolishing them but no, thousands of square feet are empty in the heart in the city being used by beautiful abandoned buildings which would be amazing to see if renovated. Keep up with the good work, huge fan!

[@duthies]

Fully agreed! Many thanks for the kind comment Arthur.

[@stephbrowne]

What a great video! So informative, and I agree with all your points - especially the nonsensical Triple Kirks development. I too spent many a night lingering outside Exo and staring up at the ruin, it was such a disappointment to move back last year and see what they'd done to the place. Thanks so much for taking the time to make this! Really well done.

[@duthies]

Thanks for your comment steph glad you enjoyed

[@ewganhoff]

I climbed into the spire alone after going AWOL from a Belmont St nightclub whilst high off my face on ecstacy over 20 years ago. I'd made it to the lower floor, which was quite a bit off the ground, and was climbing a rotten ladder up to the next floor when, as my body was straddling the ceiling and the floor above it, around 10,000 pigeons decided it was time to make their escape. They'd been roosting in that ceiling and their only way out was the opening mostly blocked by my body. As you can imagine, my euphoric state was instantly swapped with sheer terror as a million feathers battered me from head to toe. It was a bamboozling experience. Also on that night I found a route via some scaffolding on to the roofs of the west side of Belmont St where I gleefully ran around waving my arms like some kind of deranged supervillain. Oh, to be young and invincible again!

[@drybokes7055]

I discovered recently that Aberdeen Council in 2019, took out a £40 million loan to be paid back over the next 50 years. Aberdeen City's total debt is now just over £400 million. These clowns cannot even live within their means. Our grandchildren will likely be paying this debt. Shameful. Agree with your take on the shopping centres, and their ultimate demise, in the near future. ( RIP John Lewis. Another building that will sit empty for years, before getting pulled down ) I also did a double take at your property centre of puppets. I own the album, and was recently in communication with one of their property solicitors regarding my mortgage. Keep up the good work. I fair enjoyed that.

[@duthies]

Thanks Dry Bokes! That and the £370million bond have secured a tragic burden for any authority following the current lot - they just want to take credit for spending money we don't have and blame the SNP when we have no money. This is the whole reason local governments are governed with capital and revenue budgets - but it shouldn't be allowed that they are able to take out loans to give themselves more capital then burden the revenue budget with repayments. MoP is a great album and it deserves a little tribute :)

[@GusBinnie]

Your video is both fascinating and thoroughly depressing in equal measure! It has been over 10 years since I last visited Aberdeen, and getting on for 20 since I lived there and clearly much has changed. Thon thing in Broad Street is just wrong and I agree that the space left by St Nicholas House should have been kept as public space. The worst bit for me was seeing what they've done at the Triple Kirks site - you couldn't really accuse the developers of smoking funny substances, because if they had been we might have seen something with a bit of creativity. It was actually quite upsetting to see that!

[@duthies]

Thanks @GusBinnie for your comment - yes they're both drab and unimaginative developments - not necessarily awful to look at but will seem dated pretty quick. The TripleKirks development I always think wouldn't be so bad if they had just stopped building a few floors sooner so it wasn't so colossally out of place.

[@peterburgess2197]

Bristol and Plymouth tend to have graffiti that say "Bristol (or Plymouth) council, continuing where the Luftwaffe left off". Aberdeen doesn't even have that excuse. And I remember watching the cooncil offices opposite Marischal being built. Everyone was rude about them. And they only made it to 40, just. That was from the Union, definitely the heart (then) of the University.

[@duthies]

Nice to have that perspective Peter - I just caught the last year of the old Aberdeen Union when I moved here - a remarkable place and a loss to the city when it closed!

[@scottchristie6734]

Loving these videos. There are not many channels doing this in Aberdeen. Keep it up please.

[@duthies]

Many thanks Scott glad you're enjoying them!

[@scottchristie6734]

@@duthies I have read the His Majesty's 100 year book and it spoke about the cities old cinemas. Seeing the picture of the cinema with what is next to it together has really helped me understand exactly where they would have stood.

[@richardmcwhirter919]

This channel is absolutely 💯

[@duthies]

Thanks Richard!

[@maladroit1213]

Awesome work man. Really appreciated history behind some of the places I know well but only in their more recent incarnations. Like the pubs and nightclubs. Always loved the architecture, though not so much when in state I was in when I left some of the establishments! Answered a lot of the questions I had also. Cheers!

[@duthies]

That's exactly what I'm aiming for - trying to answer all those random questions we've had about the city around us over the years - a lot of them generated and unforutnately forgotten by the next morning due to inebriation :D

[@casseven88]

I found Sir Robert Keith of benholms house the most interesting part of the video, ive always wondered what that old building was at seaton park. Great video 👍

[@duthies]

When it was initially moved, they used it as a house for the Provost at the time. But it's been boarded up for as long as I've known it. I don't think I'd like to live in it - somewhat off the beaten path in the dark - and yet near a footpath thoroughfare in the infamous Seaton Park. I considered adding a joke to the video that even our current provost, who is known for enjoying a generous expense or benefit on the taxpayer's coin, wouldn't live in it! But I think it was edging on being too political and long as it was.

[@rayw3294]

Thank you again. Agree with you entirely.

[@rossco5409]

Surprised Provest Skene Housen didnt get a mention but great video 😊

[@duthies]

Thanks Rossco. It's a very cool building but the grouting work wasn't handled well and the surroundings take away from the building's charm.

[@llamacorn-iu9mq]

This was great to watch as someone considering Aberdeen for university Thanks!

[@duthies]

Thanks 223llamacorn22

[@Gazzabhoy]

So 3 years doon ih line........did yih choose Aiberdeen University or sum wye else?

[@peterburgess2197]

The rusty thing is corten steel, designed to not needing painting. Hmm. In my day (hippies, Jimi Hendrix, moon landings etc.) the worst new building was Norco House, now John Lewis (for a few days anyway). It was widely suspected of being built by someone who had worked on Hitler's Atlantic Wall.

[@professorpodcast3029]

Never Clicked so fast before!, Brilliant Buildings, Brilliant City, Brilliant Country, another brilliant video!

[@duthies]

Thanks again tyler_scotsman_Albannach - glad you're enjoying these :)

[@professorpodcast3029]

@@duthies I'm from Dundee, but I always enjoyed a visit to Aberdeen, I have noticed all of these buildings and came to the same conclusions as you, me and my dad made a joke about the triple Kirks, and that the William Wallace statue in Union Terrace Gardens was not calling on his men to fight, he was showing his distaste for the New Student Flats, literally suffocating the Spire

[@duthies]

@@professorpodcast3029 haha I like it. It's like he's been looking at the construction workers for the student flats this whole time, and now the current occupiers, and pointing them toward HMT saying "hemin - this is fit a bonny building looks like!"

[@professorpodcast3029]

@@duthies Its hard to catch a glimpse of the Kirk now because of the construction on Union Terrace Gardens, I went up to Aberdeen for a Day Trip, I wanted to go to the Gardens as I went passed them many times without going in, but by the time I got there it was too late, the Gardens were gone, I don't particularly care for the plans for the park, it's better than an Underground Car Park, which someone proposed for the site quite sometime ago

[@adamh2900]

7:52 I remember that Mega Bowl really well from the 90s, sad to think that it no longer exists now Also, based on the fact that you include Sega music in these videos and remember that nightclub being called Liquid, I'm guessing you're a similar age to me (I'm 36) While we're on the subject of old games and the history of Aberdeen, do you remember the Solid Gold Games shop on Holburn Street?

[@duthies]

Yeah, 89 Holburn St - took me a while to figure out what number it was. I don't remember it as Solid Gold Games Centre - I remember it being called Holburn Computing - but that might just be what my family called it. Sadly I wasn't up that end of town much when I was younger. I vaguely remember the place was a bit of a mess with an island in the middle and shelves of software on the walls. I'm guessing the "new" games shops such as Future Zone in Bon Accord and Virgin Extra killed it. I remember being disappointed at the lack of range of games they had for the Archimedes ... but that was usually the case in any shop while looking for software for the Archimedes lol.

[@adamh2900]

@@duthies I don't really remember it too well exactly, but I do recall buying Sega and Game Boy cartridges there during the 90s; the unboxed ones were cheaper and often came in a little plastic case, sometimes a VHS case if the original box was missing

[@GpLd]

Thoroughly enjoyed this! Thank you 🤩

[@duthies]

Thanks @GpLd !

[@R3troguy]

One sidenote: Did you miss the bit where the Chaophraya sign literally tells you how to pronounce it? 😂 Other than that, this is an amazing video. Good job!

[@duthies]

That was the joke ;) Many thanks Maggi glad you enjoyed it!

[@coopertrooper87]

What a brilliantly informative and entertaining video! Thanks!

[@duthies]

Thanks James! Appreciate the comments, glad you enjoyed!

[@lisaclark6134]

That library is an eye sore!! The Post Office is my favourite.

[@rayfraser7079]

They are beautiful churches don't ever pull down as Glasgow did

[@cameroon95]

Master of puppets -what a Cameo sir . Great video !

[@duthies]

It is my pleasure to include a little tribute for sharp eyed Metallica fans :) Amazing album that turned my head on what music could be. Thanks for the comment!

[@cameroon95]

@@duthies my favourite Metallica album aswell . Keep up the great work , great video content and amazing to learn history of our city

[@sandystephen7827]

Another excellent informative video. Thanks for sharing !

[@duthies]

Thanks Sandy!

[@petes3011]

top work fellah.!

[@Desconhecido.015]

I'm from Brazil and in 2017 i've lived in aberdeen, i loved the whole city

[@duthies]

Thanks for commenting @Emerson Freitas! Glad you're enjoying the city!

[@lesleyrobertson5465]

Ty I’ve used your videos as information for my fiction novel very grateful

[@01thistledoo]

Spot on mate

[@Mouse2113]

Excellent video. I actually like the library haha. Marischal square was such a poor decision, I was against it from the start. It will be demolished in about 30 to 40 years to be replaced with another mistake knowing the council

[@SamWatsonTV]

Fantastic video! ACC have made many, many terrible decisions over the years when it comes to designing our city, but you are right in saying that Marshall Square is one of the worst decisions ever made in our cities history. The only good thing is the Mackie’s ice cream shop, but that could have been located anywhere. It doesn’t just ruin Marshall College, it also hides Provost Skene house. On the other hand, as a UoA student, I love the Rice Cube! It’s a fantastic contrast to the rest of the campus (which has some much worse buildings such as MacRobert which is in dire need of a NESCol style reclad), and a lovely study environment. I love watching all the boats and wind turbines whilst I revise. Just FYI, I think the new development at Triple Kirks (I’m 50/50 on it, initially hated it but now not so much) was originally for student accommodation, but the council gave the developers permission to have it be catered apartments.

[@TheHaggisBasher]

lol master of puppets (mortgage property centre) 7:15 ... well done video mate.

[@duthies]

Cheers! Rock on!

[@keithford7440]

WHAT! No vilification of that carbuncle on the backside of Aberdeen architecture known as NORCO HOUSE!! (or John Lewis for younger viewers...) although I have to agree with your top picks, the sheer amount of architects vomit in the city makes it hard to choose your least favourite ... I pine for the Aberdeen of the 1960's... Incidentally - My mother once told me that when she was a teenager, ( mid 1940's - early 50's) people would arrange to meet each other "At the Monkey House" so called because the front porch gave protection from the weather/wind while the columns looked like the bars of a monkey house.... Good job on the video!

[@duthies]

I've read that also Keith - but I had a hard time pinning down whether that was the original source of the nickname. It's not very well documented, other than it's apparently held that name since early in the building's existence. Norco house is quite a statement - very brutalist yet very unique. I don't immediately hate it but the design certainly has issues. It doesn't fit in with any of the surrounding architecture, whether it's the remaining granite shops of George St and St Andrews St, the modern shopping centre of the Bon Accord Centre, or even the Grampian Housing Association flats on Loch Street. And the lack of sunlight can't be healthy for anyone working inside. Thanks for your comment!

[@brunoyun8946]

Very nice video! I really hope the council understood that we need more open spaces when they demolish Aberdeen market :)

[@duthies]

Hmm if history is doomed to repeat I wouldn’t hold my breath - but there’s always hope!

[@colinmacdonald5732]

Whilst I agree that your top 5 are inexecrable shite, I tend to think our worst 5 buildings are hiding in clear site, I'm speaking of the high rise faux granite monstrosities sited prominently around the city centre, carbuncles so vast they can seen from Norway. Seamount Court, Marischal Court, etc, there's actually seven of them, so intrusive are they on our sky line that the aforementioned council wants to list them. Alas, all were properly built, like Berlin flack towers, too expensive to demolish.

[@professorpodcast3029]

I really like the salvation army citadel's Tower and how it honours the fact that a castle once stood on that sight. A more un popular opinion but I also really like the Carmelite, I really like the corner of it. Also I liked the Aberdeen market before it closed, okay heres my ranking to save you some time reading my comments 1st Best: Marshall College 1st Worst: Trinity Centre Car Park 2nd Best: salvation army Citadel 2nd worst: Wallace Tower 3rd Best: St Mark's 3rd Worst: Holborn House 4th Best: General Post Office 4th Worst: New Art Gallery Roof Terrace 5th Best: The Archibald Simpson 5th Worst: Ship Row Vue Cinema and Ibis Hotel

[@duthies]

All good choices - the Citadel is stunning (from the front at least) and Holburn house is totally out of place on Union Street.

[@professorpodcast3029]

Oh, i also forgot the Trinity Centre Steps, they are the most stupid idea in Scotland

[@professorpodcast3029]

Oh, i also forgot the Trinity Centre Steps, they are the most stupid idea in Scotland, I try to avoid them but when its raining, they are the only good connection between the station and Union Street

[@ncodr]

@@professorpodcast3029 I left ABZ in 2013 after 20 years in and around the city centre - I take it there's still no escalator alongside those stairs then ;)

[@stanbruce8510]

Left Aberdeen in 1971 have been home many times since then, am always saddened by the actions of the council from the fifties they have acted like vandals. Stan Bruce Sydney australia.

[@duthies]

Agreed Stan, and the contemporaries seem determined not to learn from their predecessors. Only interested in elections. Thanks for commenting!

[@manitwanitchanon9058]

I use to live in Aberdeen since 2003-2008 I'm sure now Aberdeen must had changed alot.

[@bronte6364]

Excellent! Really enjoyed 👍😄.

[@duthies]

Thanks Brontë !

[@iaincamdk]

Great video. Delighted to see most of my favourites in there in the good stuff. The Crown Street Post office is just sensational, and would have been a brilliant Aberdeen Museum. I would only have added the monstrosity box at the capital to the worst ones. Plus the Dick Donald Stand at Pittodrie, for wanton architectural vandalism.

[@duthies]

I'll say this for the capitol and the neighbouring Silver Fin development - they've kept those glass boxes away from the street and preserved/built a nice frontage for their respective buildings. It's still not right but it's a lot more sympathetic than other developers have been IMO. Glad you enjoyed the video and that, from your comment and others I gather that I seem to have picked some good ones!

[@juliaosamboco3710]

Could make a video about some cool places to visit for tourism?!?!

[@duthies]

That's a decent idea Juliao - I'll consider it for a future project!

[@stuntkid5000]

Excellent Video!!

[@duthies]

Thank you Marco! :)

[@taranstewart7524]

Great video Keep it up!!

[@duthies]

Thanks Taran Stewart :)

[@ametrinemoon]

I am with you on the new Aberdeen Uni library. It looks ridiculous and extremely out of place with and the layout inside makes the sound from the cafe on the ground floor move up the atrium. It is annoying when you are trying to work and hence I moved up to the Medical school library which is a lot quieter. I still miss the QML, if only they expanded that/

[@duthies]

Yeah it looks pretty whack in the middle of the bonny buildings in Aberdeen Uni campus - thanks for the comment!

[@ametrinemoon]

@@duthies It does completely and the new science building with be equally out of sync with the rest of the campus.

[@CavemanNinja]

QML was an absolutely dreadful building in every way. Ugly does not even begin to describe it. The SDRL is light years better.

[@CavemanNinja]

@@ametrinemoon As if the rest of the campus is somehow coherent?! What nonsense. All the buildings were built in different eras and look different. That's the nature of a University campus. You're really telling me Edward Wright and King's College and the Pavilion and Meston and Fraser Noble look anything alike?

[@ametrinemoon]

@@CavemanNinja SDRL has all the noise coming from the cafe on the bottom floor. At least the QML was nice a quiet like a library.

[@duthies]

I broke the video description character limit for citing my sources on this one. Additional sources: facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1814568358712437&id=390226301146657 aberdeenvoice.com/2020/05/marischal-square-rents-information-commissioner-takes-on-case/ aberdeenvoice.com/2021/03/marischal-square-sweeteners-taxpayers-give-generously/ facebook.com/MarischalSquareAberdeen/posts/3326461770773411 www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/local/aberdeen-councillor-stands-by-claim-that-breaking-deal-would-cost-100-million/ audioboom.com/posts/2844664-willie-young-explains-marischal-square-cancellation-fee-comments facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1813519502150656&id=390226301146657 www.pressreader.com/uk/the-press-and-journal-aberdeen-and-aberdeenshire/20120711/282845073122714 www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/775131/marischal-square-popular-visit-king-herod-bethlehem-nursery/ www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/2911429/blow-for-aberdeens-marischal-square-as-prezzo-confirms-permanent-closure-of-restaurant/ facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1830090747160198&id=390226301146657 www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/3001555/from-the-editor-time-to-make-your-voice-heard-and-save-john-lewis-and-our-city-centre-too/ www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2018-04/FOI_18_0314_MarischalSquare_Redacted.pdf aberdeensnp.org/node/41

[@michalk8133]

I would argue that the Marshall Court - and other tall blocks like that - should find their place in the worst top 3. Or even the Zoology building belonging to the Aberdeen University. They are total eye-sores. But would agree with most of the picks in the video and overall a great video. Keep it up.

[@duthies]

Social housing can be quite interesting architecturally - Trellec Tower and Robin Hood Gardens are good examples - but I don't think we have any particularly interesting examples of it in Aberdeen despite several high rises here getting A listed status this year somehow. Thanks for the comment!

[@EFZ1809]

Any idea where the museum went that was in Marschial College?

[@duthies]

Closed during the big refurb - so they opened Kings Museum in Old Aberdeen in it's stead. I remember seeing signage for it in the old Town House and later in one of the nearby buildings before covid - I don't think they've decided to fully re-open yet but you'll get the latest on this page: www.abdn.ac.uk/museums/

[@EOTA564]

The west end has some beautiful buildings too. By far the most attractive part of the city.

[@linjoy9627]

Why didn't Provast Skene's House get a mention? I love this building and hated that St Nickolas House dwarfed it, now the idiot council did it again with that stupid office block opposite Marshall College.

[@duthies]

Agreed - St Nicholas house wasn’t great I suppose but Marischal Square is worse as Skene House is now totally boxed in. They did a hatchet job on the grouting and we lost the museum and cafe too. I take a brief look at Provost Skene’s house in an upcoming video so stay tuned.

[@ewganhoff]

You said it yourself the Uni library is marmite. I love it and call it the Zebra building.

[@TaborKelly]

Good video. But as per #3 don't be a NIMBY, and unfinished steel is great.

[@adambinnie1332]

I believe it was called the Monkey House as in the 1960s it was a meeting point for young couples going on a date, as the fashion was back then with the Beatles a lot of the guys used to hang around there waiting for the dates to show up waring the Beatles Monkey jackets.

[@reivenne]

Cannot believe the John Lewis building didn't make the Bad List. It's hideous!

[@yootooooooob]

Our Council sucks so much, great video.

[@duthies]

Yeah - 5th of May 2022 before we have another chance to get these clowns out! Just have to hope they don't do too much damage in the meantime. Thanks for the comment!

[@Timanator]

Hillarious!

[@GCStalker]

What about former Aberdeen University Union building overlooking Broad St? Now Starbucks.

[@duthies]

That was the Union - possibly one of the best in Scotland - it was massive and had all these different bars - I didn't get a chance to properly explore it but I remember upstairs was Cybill's bar which was basically a big ballroom and you got 50p shots. Downstairs was The Dungeon where bands would play live. In between, student shops, arcade machines ... unfortunately I don't remember much else. I think it closed in 2003 or 4? After it closed they opened up a replacement in the bar where Spin is now which wasn't nearly as epic - it didn't last too long. I think the current Union is on campus. Found this old forum thread which might be interesting: www.aberdeen-music.com/topic/44810-aberdeen-student-union/

[@russianradio85]

The monkeyhouse columns at the enterance ard ionic, not doric. And the ones inside i think are corinthian. Also, it literally tells you how to pronounce chaophraya on the sign 🤭.

[@duthies]

Hi @russianradio85 - yes you're absolutely right about the columns - I can't remember what I put in the script but it was supposed to be placeholder for me to go back and fact-check, looks like I didn't get round to it, doh! Giving myself a slap on the wrist for that one. The Chaophraya thing however was entirely intentional and is just my sense of humor.

[@thomtini]

The same Hitler tale is also told of the Grand Hotel in Scarborough.

[@laurietinto5211]

Great video, accurate assessment on the good and the bad, am all for modern buildings when they fit there environments, in my opinion the flats at the triple lurks beget disbelieve.

[@duthies]

Yes there's a common theme in modern architecture - size trumps aesthetic. One needs only to look to Manhatten for inspiration if density is a goal while still building something iconic but sadly these are budget driven disposable utilitarian buildings that have no place in a city of architecture. Thanks for the comment!

[@ckfks]

You are amazing

[@aaronlowe60]

I'm quite young, but I love my city's architecture. BUT WHY THE HELL WOULD THEY DO THIS TO THE TRIPLE KIRKS

[@duthies]

Money. More floors = more profit. Why the council would approve it however ... well ... I hint at that in a later section of the video

[@aaronlowe60]

Ah, it's still annoying that they've done that, and also the Wallace house, just, ahhhhhhhhhgg. it's just a stain on Aberdeen, and now we're stuck with a terrible 60s mess

[@sanderson9338]

The greens tastie tattie or broadstreets. I'm a broadsreet guy. Tattie wi cheese and mince

[@Rushshah987]

I'm Scottish but I'm still here going, WhatDidHeSayyyyy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@duthies]

Hullo - always trying to improve my diction, what part did you have trouble with? Videos are fully subtitled btw.

[@Rushshah987]

Thanks for letting me know about the subtitles, didn't notice that!

[@kevinkevin-ug9po]

Wtf has all the oil and gas money went?

[@ewganhoff]

Why are none of the horrendous sky scrapers on the list? Or are they getting a video all to themselves? They need one!

[@duthies]

Skyscrapers are in my book not so much ugly as utilitarian - I didn't think there was much unique about the skyscrapers of Aberdeen compared to anywhere else or much of a talking point. Plus you'll notice that none of my worst buildings are residential - I just didn't feel good about ragging on places that were actually folks' homes. Fair point though they're nae bonny.

[@ewganhoff]

@@duthies That's one of the reasons I considered, you don't want to alienate a potential subscriber. Totally fair enough. I was just imagining a scathing review of their aesthetics in the style of The Critical Drinker. That would be mean but hilarious and warranted IMO. Thanks for the great vid. I look forward to more. Subbed.

[@duthies]

@@ewganhoff I love the critical drinker and I sometimes do feel tempted to do a review in his style - maybe in a future project! Thanks for the comments glad you enjoyed!

[@Revolver1981]

Aberdeen doesn't have any skyscrapers. Do you mean tower blocks?

[@ayse5820]

I' m from Uzbekistan.Some years ago I had been in Aberdeen.I liked it and its people for their kindless.Now I always watch videos about Scotland.Many great thanks to everybody.

[@ConnorCrossley-e4z]

Marichal college is ih worst 🤣🤣

[@duthies]

U wot?

[@Gazzabhoy]

​@@duthiesYou surely mean...........fit? 😂

[@duthies]

@@Gazzabhoy FIT???