On my first day in Edinburgh, I couldn't help noticing the Jack Kane Centre as we passed in search of ASDA. I was wondering; was it purpose built to look like Reactor 4's sarcophagus or was it converted from a nuclear bunker? If so, how many megatons can it withstand? I haven't yet had the courage to cycle around it. It looks as though it should be surrounded by barbed wire with armed patrols and guard dogs protecting it.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Jack Kane Centre - does it have any windows?
(7 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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The man behind the building was Brian Annable, who came out of the late 1950s, early 1960s school of concrete minimalism. He was Chief Architect for Edinburgh City and did a lot of schools/education work between 1972 and 1980 in areas like Hailes, Niddrie, Craigmillar and Sighthill. If you look at his other creations such as Hailesland, Clovenstone and Buckstone primary schools, or some of his later housing schemes, he did have rather a predilication for low rise, low frills, squared off and grey clad. Presumably his view was that one wouldn't want every Tom, Dick and Harry looking in through the windows, so he didn't include many.
The Jack Kane Centre's nuclear bunker appearance does detract from the good work it does for various sports.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Do they still have three toilets there - Mens, Ladies and Others?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Jimmy Boyle created a sculpture that was also a tunnel outside the Jack Kane centre to continue the troglodyte theme. Windows are a temptation (links to a comment I made earlier about The Gunner pub in Muirhouse that has no windows - never a good sign)
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Jimmy Boyle created a sculpture that was also a tunnel"
Gulliver - expected to disappear if/when they build more houses on playing fields.
Posted 13 years ago # -
It's just up the road from my workplace. I'll be 40 next month and my colleagues are tormenting me by threatening to do one of those happy birthday banners outside it.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Jack Kane - many moons ago a friend secureded his bicycle to a mature beech tree with a spiffing lock and chain. When he came back they'd cut the tree down with a chainsaw and the bike was no more. Nobody'd be that daft these days though.
Posted 13 years ago #
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