INTRODUCTION

In order to fully understand the context of this project, I looked into the school’s history.

Besides this, I studied a large number and variety of case studies to support my design decisions. In the following pages, a small collection of the different types of projects I have looked at. These have informed the proposed alterations and the main space. On the right, ECA interior design students in the 1910s.

Historic Context

1708

THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE WITHIN UoE & ECA

1760

1892

1903

1906

1907

1908

The regenting system is abolished and the Faculty of the Arts is founded in the University of Edinburgh.

The Board of Trustees for Fisheries, Manufacturers and Improvements established the Trustees Drawing Academy, ECA’s forerunner.

The School of Applied Art was founded as an alternative body as many felt that the Academy had lost its distinctive character.

The School of Applied Art becomes the Architecture department of the Trustees Academy School.

A reorganisation of Edinburgh's higher education: art teaching is combined in one college serving as the central institution for the South East of Scotland.

The Scottish Education Department took over the responsibility for the Art School and it became the Edinburgh College of Art.

First architecture courses taught in ECA.

Secondary Research

1946

1947

A joint taught

MA (Honours in Fine Art) was continuously offered by the University of Edinburgh and ECA from here on.

The Forbes Chair of Architecture becomes a joint post between UoE and ECA.

ECA students, early 20th Century.

1956

New Department of Architecture established by Sir Robert Hogg Matthew, complete with a new BArch and research MArch degrees.

1963 Architecture is transferred from the Faculty of the Arts to the Faculty of Social Sciences.

1968

ECA enjoyed associate status and awarded degrees of HeriotWatt University.