"Murrayburgh" on TV last night

What a shock to the people of the republic last night when Allan Murray appeared on our screens in yet another Coast spin off type programme,"Scotland Revealed".



The first part of the programme concentrates on Edinburgh, pretty basic stuff and it's 11 or so minutes in, that the architect of Murrayburgh appears to wake you up out of your primary school mindset with teacher Charles Mckean of Edinburgh World Heritage Trust watch here


Another programme we caught this week was Jonathan Meades "Off Kilter" where he visits Aberdeen.

50 mins in he ends the programme with an entertaining and to the point piece on "Trumpton" Remember you can sign the Tripping Up Trump petition

Say NO to compulsory purchase and sign their petition!

The Carbuncle Cup Award 2009 vote now...

"Just think my dear...If this is what man is capable of achieving in the Seventeenth Century, just imagine what he will be capable of in the Twenty-First!"

mikewilliamscartoons

From BuildingDesignOnline -

"High profile monstrosities, value-engineered shockers, buildings so ugly they freeze the heart - crap architecture continues its march across the UK.

Launched for the first time in 2006, the Carbuncle Cup is to the Stirling Prize what the Golden Raspberries are to the Oscars. So while the Riba searched for architecture's prime cuts, they set out to uncover the offal.

Nominations for the 2009 Carbuncle Cup – for the most hideous building completed in the last 12 months.

Either add your nomination to the story at this link , or email bdonline@ubm.com telling them where the building is and why it deserves to win. Pictures are welcome."

Pics here of Edinburgh`s most popular for award so far, oh it is the latest addition to Murrayburgh. Oh isn`t it a shame that his latest known locally as AM`s "Pube" on Leith Street isn`t completed yet so he could have had a double whammy.
Though its been uncovered that his Cube was not an original idea (surprise surprise) but inspiration came from a visit to an Australian nightclub....

But as yet this question remains unanswered, why has one mediocre architect got nearly all the projects in town??

Edinburgh Castle Outdated

In the republic last year, we told you of the council`s plan to re-brand Edinburgh and rename her Murrayburgh. after the architect they have charged with reshaping it

Well as things progress speedily, this week at the Haymarket Public Inquiry, it was suggested that well, castles are a bit old fashioned and de rigeuer of the day for city skylines are hotels and other symbols that scream Fred Goodwin, Mountgrange Capital basically " the age of greed"


The Haymarket Hotel artiste Murphy makes no apologies for changing the skyline.

But if his hotel is anything like his flats for us peasants in the Old Town, it will not be changing the skyline for that long.....now today is a day for getting out of town and building some castles on the beach ....perhaps a young Murphy was forever getting his sandcastles knocked down and this is his revenge.....big, bad hotels......The 17 Storey Haymarket Horror Hotel

Council`s Old Town Plan Revealed

Cartoon from Gibbleguts

At a secret committee meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council, this news has been leaked to the Republic....

As we suspected the council`s overall city centre development strategy is to rid the Old Town of permanent residents.

At the meeting it was discussed that the measures already in place are working a treat.

"The HMO`s are going faster than hot cakes", said one councillor. They added "That puts paid to pesky permanent residents breeding any more Edinburgh Old Town residents and there are never voices of dissent from a flat full of spanish student/casual workers on council policy." "Family housing my a**e , who do they think cities are for??" sneered another councillor.

"Us business people thats who" piped up another

"Then when we rename it "Murrayburgh" no one will blink an eyelid" laughed one who is a friend of local architects it is rumoured.


"That policy of destroying all trees, pockets of greenspace is astoundingly quick in driving out not only the wildlife but the most hardy of long term residents" laughed another councillor closely connected to entertainment companies across the city.


They added "The sanitisation of the Grassmarket has worked a treat, so public space will be as out of fashion as a residents association in the not too distant future" sniggered another into their latte.

"The lax response to Hen and Stag parties ruining residents lives is going well", reported another councillor, known for their pro economic development line on the planning committee. "Passing every hotel application is progressing well too", laughed another councillor who has close hotel industry links. "Gosh it won`t be long" sneered a councillor known for their disdain of locals, "before residents are a thing of the past", then we can pay students to dress up as residents through the ages" suggested another who has close links with the tourist industry "

"Spending money on statues are getting their goats at the moment but with one going up soon of the ordinary woman in response to the many complaints about only having the common man statue outside the councils HQ will surely will shut them up" said the committee`s chair.
to be continued.......

Inspiration for Caltongate?

Allan "Caltongate or Edinburgh Must Die" Murray trained under Moshe Safdie, who is responsible for the above in Kansas which is on hold

A Murray Piece here and Why oh why is he everywhere? asks this piece

Edinburgh to be renamed Murrayburgh

Latest addition to Murrayburgh Unveiled

"Crivens! help ma boab! Och, it will only last 40 odd years like the other piece of mince that was there before, lets hope they hae more sense the next set of mortals " David Hume on seeing the latest Allan Murray on the corner of George IV Bridge and Lawnmarket which he looks out onto.

Having a lie down now in the republic, as later in day to get to car boot sale we have to walk through the Allan Murray Quarter. The Omni and the Cube in the making with thoughts of the carnage when they replace the eyesore St James Centre with another.

Murrayburgh Tours here

Edinburgh to be renamed Murrayburgh?

Above is one of the many tour souvenirs available to buy

Talks are said to be taking place in the council to decide on a new name for the capital.



It is to be in honour of Allan Murray the prolific architect reshaping the city for the 21st Century.


Along with rebranding the city, officials believe it should be renamed as many prominent council officials along with the Chamber of Commerce and Visit Scotland, feel that the name Edinburgh conjours up images of old buildings, history and that sort of thing...they say its putting off the business visitor, hen and stags and the increasing numbers of people coming to look at new builds, whether empty office blocks, five star hotels and ten a penny luxury 2 bed apartments.


Allan Murray tours are proving to be popular as demand for more traditional historical and spooky type tours is dropping, as even the ghosts themselves have left the Old Town to make way for new Allan Murray buildings.


The tour starts with a brunch at The Tun building on Holyrood Road, where a short indoctrination talk is given on the economic benefits of all new development.

After brunch and talk you are driven in a Murray themed bus along the ever increasing tour route around the city. Craigmillar not on the tour at the present moment. (It is rumoured that future tours may take in Murray sites in The Merchant city in Glasgow and Peterhead etc)



Here is the route - (so far...)

The Tun, Holyrood Road
Cowgate Nursery, Old Town
Cowgate Fire Site (SOCO), Old Town
George IV Bridge Site.... Old Town
Argyle House , West Port, Old Town


Edinburgh Park (various Buildings)
Croyston House, Ravelston Terrace
Freer Street, New Town
Coal Hill, Leith


Then its onto "The Murray Hat Trick"
The Omni Centre, St James Centre Site and The Cube


Then its up to Calton Hill to look down onto the proposed Caltongate site where you are treated to a wee dram of Murrays own specially blended whisky "The Murrayburgh Blend" Each bottle featuring one of his many buildings.


We are looking forward to a tour review very soon.