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Andrew Melville Hall
James Stirling | |
| location | St Andrews |
| function | student housing, university |
| contributed by | Scozia |
Designed in the New Brutalist style by the renowned architect James Stirling, Andrew Melville Hall was built during a major expansion of the University in the 1960s, using prefabricated concrete modules. Errors in construction meant that extensive remedial work was required over several decades. It is of a striking design and is situated prominently at the North Haugh on a ridge overlooking the famous St Andrews Links. On one level, it's very idealistic. Stirling recognised the possibility of the landscape by positioning the building right on the escarpment between the coastal plain and the plateau, then created a great mid-level promenade. He took the topology and accentuated it from four storeys to eight, and accentuated the sense of landscape. The hall resembles passing ships, a common theme of the architect's style. This hall is the only one of four that were to be built along the Haugh in an unrealised masterplan.
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