Description

Brown and Watt, 1900; later additions. 2-storey and attic, 3-bay villa. Tooled coursed grey granite ashlar with finely finished margins to S elevation; Aberdeen bond granite rubble to remainder. Rough-faced base course; dividing band course; 1st floor cill course; eaves course; overhanging eaves.

S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: asymmetrical; round-arched doorway with keystone detail to centre bay of ground floor, recessed 2-leaf panelled timber door reached by stone steps, fanlight above; ogee fronted stone balustraded balcony between ground and 1st floors, recessed wall plane to centre bay at 1st floor, stone brackets at lintel level, glazed timber door with fanlight; pilastered and pedimented tripartite dormer to attic floor. Tripartite window to ground floor of bay to left, bipartite window to 1st floor, deeply chamfered outer left angle to ground floor, stained glass window with ogee lintel to centre, bowed angle below eaves to 1st floor, 3 small windows with ogee lintels. 4-light canted window through ground and 1st floors of bay to right, bowed outer right angle at 1st floor, 3 small windows with ogee lintels.

E ELEVATION: asymmetrical; modern conservatory addition to left of ground floor; rectangular-plan lean-to advanced to right of ground floor with 2 stained glass windows (possibly ingleneuk); single window to centre of 1st floor; pedimented window with ogee cill to centre of 2 wallhead stacks at attic floor.

N ELEVATION: doorway to centre at ground floor, stair window above, tripartite window to left at ground floor, single window above; broad gableted 4-light stained glass dormer to centre of attic floor. Bays to right not seen 2000.

W ELEVATION: asymmetrical; irregular fenestration to bays to right; 2-storey wing to left, with doorway to right return.

Predominantly 2-pane timber sash and case windows. Piended grey slate roof with lead ridges and some modern skylights. Corniced wallhead stacks with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

INTERIOR: stained glass screen to inner hall; mouldings and staircase survive.

GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: square-plan gatepiers with shallow pyramidal caps to S, low coped ashlar wall between; brick and granite coped rubble walls to remainder.

Statement of Interest

From the beginning of the 19th century Aberdeen rapidly expanded westwards from Union Street. 58 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 Brown and Watt, were often employed to produce bold and unusual designs to reflect the wealth and individuality of the clients. Brown and Watt designed some of the most unusual houses is this area of Aberdeen, and 58 Rubislaw Den South is no exception. The bowed balcony and tiny windows with ogee lintels are typical of Brown and Watt's architecture.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17769840

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.

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