Wot Not to Build

View to city from south ...

Swathes of sun and shadow passing overhead on a breezy day produced this effect which highlights (as if they need any help) the foreground buildings forming part of the sprawling University of Edinburgh King's Buildings campus.

In the background the ex (we hope) volcano aka Arthur's Seat sits patiently in the shade awaiting its next brief moment of glory in the sunshine.

For decades those living in the suburbs, and visitors approaching from the south, have had to suffer the intrusion of these lumps of concrete and steel which the 70s architects, in particular, clearly spent 5 minutes considering how their efforts could blend into the cityscape. What's even more infuriating is that the city planners gave them their blessing and continue to do so for similar monstrosities across the city on a regular basis.

For years we counted down the demise/demolition of the older tower block on the extreme right of the photo (Bio Sciences) only to despair when they constructed the equally inappropriate naughties building immediately to the left of it (Cell Biology). As a matter of interest there are a couple of superb Paolozzi statues outside the latter - a future blip methinks.

The Council and the University have some wonderful architecture around the city, but anyone who lives here knows how these two organisations in particular are more than capable of blotting the panorama - a scenario repeated up and down the UK I'd suspect.

Edit: Also have a look at Dara's blip from today. Enough said!