Musings at the Museum

Where the old Royal Scottish Museum building meets the new Museum of Scotland building

I studied Architectural History at Edinburgh University, so my eye is naturally drawn to view architecture as a form of art.
You have seen a little of this via my previous account of the Forth Bridge, an incredible object that I was drawn to as a child, as an adult look at in awe.  The people that have seen my hobby photographs of buildings, mainly reviews at my home of my travels, were the main protagonists of my following photography as a profession. So I thought it fitting that my first architectural post would be close to University where my love of art, which is almost synonymous with my love for architecture began, at the National Museum of Scotland. http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum.aspx
But a stone's throw away from the Edinburgh School of Architecture,  The National Museum is housed on Chambers Street, literally across the road from the home of my undergraduate studies. 

http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/course-finder?year=13-14&period=all&college=HSS&subject=Architecture+-+History&cw_xml=index.php

The particular part that is of interest to me is the new extension, completed in 1998 by Benson and Forsyth. It is modern yet ancient looking, built of strong, solid Scottish sandstone like much of the rest of Edinburgh. The architects took great effort to include many Scottish influences from different periods of architecture in their modern building. Strong curves and solid walls that are reminiscent of a medieval keep stand shoulder to shoulder with repetitive lines synonymous with Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

 Natural light floods the building inside and out, as the architects payed particular attention to the movement of the sun. There are natural light wells all over the building.

 Staircases have also been given special treatment, with no two alike in either size or style. Even an emergency ladder is displayed as an object of beauty.

I thoroughly recommend having a wander around the National Museum of Scotland if you get the chance whilst in Edinburgh. If you are interested in architecture, the Museum of Scotland building is one of the most interesting buildings in the city, and is a joy to walk around with or without the exhibits. 

 I feel well and truly rested after a lovely family Christmas a trois. Even at the age of 30, and having been with my partner for 11+ years,  Christmas with my parents is something I am simply not willing to relinquish, and we had a whizzy jolly time. As the New Year has begun to unfold, I feel the weight of my former bored and frustrated self drifting off to no-mans land,  and the self that was suppressed for so long beginning to return. As I went to 'work' today, I caught myself in the completely un-Edinburgerish act of humming. Naturally, I stopped myself immediately.  I think I may be deluded from my holiday in France.  Tomorrow I will begin my photography course at the Edinburgh College of Art. I am looking forward to it immensely, for it is here I will meet my future contemporaries, colleagues, mentors and friends.