Description

W and J Smith and Kelly, 1899. 2-storey and attic, 3-bay villa. Tooled coursed grey granite with contrasting light grey long and short dressings finely finished to margins of S elevation; coursed Aberdeen bond granite rubble to remainder. Base course; long and short quoins; overhanging eaves; timber bargeboards.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; 2-leaf panelled timber door in chamfered doorway to centre bay of ground floor, fanlight above, single window to 1st floor with projecting cill and iron brattishing, rectangular dormer to attic floor; tripartite windows to ground and 1st floors of flanking bay to right; gabled bay advanced to left, 5-light canted window to ground floor, with corniced parapet, tripartite window to 1st floor, harled and half-timbered gablehead with 4-light oriel advanced on brackets to centre.

E ELEVATION: asymmetrical; irregular fenestration; gabled bay to left, single storey wing advanced to outer right.

N ELEVATION: not seen 2000.

W ELEVATION: asymmetrical; gabled bay advanced to right, single windows to left at ground and 1st floors, later 20th century flat-roofed glazed timber porch on granite plinth reached by iron steps to centre; 2 windows to recessed bay to left.

Predominantly timber sash and case windows; leaded upper sashes to ground floor, small-pane upper sashes to 1st floor. Grey slate roof with lead ridges. Corniced gablehead and ridge stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods with decorative top hoppers.

INTERIORS: not seen 2000.

GATEPIERS, RAILINGS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan granite ashlar gatepiers with pyramidal caps to S, low stepped granite wall between surmounted by decorative iron railings; brick and rubble coped walls to remainder.

Statement of Interest

From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 36 and 38 Rubislaw Den South is part of the late 19th/early 20th century development W of Queen's Cross. Rubislaw Den South runs almost parallel to Queen's Road (on the site of Skene Road) which was originally surrounded by the estate of Rubislaw. In 1877 Rubislaw Estate was bought by the City of Aberdeen Land Association, who re-aligned Skene Road and sold off the estate in smaller plots. Streets became wider and villas with substantial gardens often replaced terraces. Prestigious architects, such as W and J Smith and William Kelly, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. W and J Smith and Kelly were responsible for designing several houses in the Rubislaw Den area. 36 and 38 Rubislaw Den South is typical of the conservative but well designed houses by Smith and Kelly. Of particular note are the leaded windows to the ground floor and the finely detailed railings to the S of the villa (also found at 44 Rubislaw Den South, by Smith and Kelly, see separate listing).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q56625498

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)