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Architecture

Shetland is rich in buildings dating from prehistory to the present. The most spectacular of the oldest structures is unquestionably the Broch of Mousa, an iron age double-walled stone tower presumed to have a defensive purpose. The Mousa example is merely the best-preserved: there are scores of others. Other notable prehistoric remains include such structures as the somewhat mysterious Staneydale ‘temple’ and the multi-period settlements at Jarlshof and Old Scatness.

The oldest buildings still in use in Shetland date from the 16th and 17th centuries. The oldest part of Busta House, near Brae, was constructed in 1588 and a number of other buildings are from the same period.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the creation of much of the present fabric of the main town, Lerwick. It grew as a temporary settlement along the shore, catering to the needs of the summer fishing season. Later, permanent buildings were erected on narrow lanes leading up the hill above the harbour. In the late 1800s, a period of prosperity saw a planned ‘new town’ develop a little way inland, prominent among which is the splendid Victorian Town Hall. These historic quarters are all now Conservation Areas and retain much of their original character. Closely-packed buildings, high walls and the shelter that they provide mean that these are very desirable places to live, particularly for keen gardeners. With few exceptions – one of which is J J Burnet’s Bank of Scotland in Lerwick - building was solid but very plain, meeting the needs of a society in which practicality was paramount.

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Belmont House: Restoration work has recently been undertaken on Belmont House in Unst, an outstanding example of Georgian domestic architecture.

Much of the 20th century was an economically difficult time and left little by way of an architectural legacy, though the extent and quality of early Council housing in Lerwick is impressive. From the 1980s onwards, however, with a return of confidence and a degree of prosperity, some fine new buildings were promoted. Local architects were responsible for some notable rural schools. In Lerwick, the Trustee Savings Bank, Shetland Museum and Archives and some smaller structures, including a sports pavilion and a pumping station, stand out. There have also been some outstanding restoration projects, including Belmont House in Unst and, on Lerwick’s waterfront, the Tolbooth, Albert Buildings and a former ice factory.

In 2010, a year-long festival of Shetland architecture, Power of Place encompasses a variety of events including a conference and an architectural film season. The festival explores how architecture and place-making can complement the vitality of the islands’ community and economy.