Refurbishment for the Duncan of Jordanstone Crawford and Matthew Buildings was a long time coming. Its
outdated features still standing fifty years later show how attitudes have changed in society. “WoMen” will be
highlighting the actions which contributed to the fight for equality. The divide between genders has now reduced
but there are remnants of bias in today’s-built environment.
In 1909, James Duncan of Jordanstone died and at his bequest left money to the Dundee Technical Institute where
he proposed a new independent building to be established for the art school. Also suggesting a “Women’s Institute”
to provide access to higher education for the female population, he recommended courses including ironing, home
economics and dressmaking. In a contemporary perspective, this might seem belittling, but this was an advancement
in terms of equality in higher education.
Women did not have equal access to degrees in the same way men were. Instead, there were qualifications called
the Lady Literate in Arts (LLA). Until discontinued in the 1930s, the LLA was a separate award distributed by St
Andrews University and was not to the same value as the “male” degree. This is what was awarded in Dundee for
women who took participated in higher education. Although the result was not equal, there is still a value in
learning. The LLA reifies the stereotypes where women were not suitable for further training. The Duncan of
Jordanstone’s move was empowering for the women of this time - especially since women had yet to receive the
right to vote.
Initially the building was put on hold due to the Technical Institute reserving the funds for a different project. Where
solicitors stepped in and halted the release because it was not what was requested of the Duncan of Jordanstone. It
wasn’t until the 1930’s that the money was finally released for a building now known as the Crawford to be
constructed from 1953-64.
Before completion, a UK government inquiry wished to expand the prospects of further education, proposing a
second building to accommodate the rising demand from students eager to study design disciplines following the
success of the Crawford. The Matthew building - named after the college’s principal Chessor Matthew - would
establish a well-rounded architecture and town planning school. This also housed the Duncan of Jordanstone’s
proposal of new courses, such as home economics, hotel management and interior design.
The interior design course was established in 1966, around time when Matthew building was designed during the
rise of the brutalism style and was constructed from 1969-74. This was an inspirational point for change in the art
school soon to be merged with the nearby University of Dundee. The new course joint run by the design department
and architecture described in the prospectus as, “students will divide their time between the schools of design and
architecture since they must be able to manipulate space and colour, and to understand structures, materials and
interior finishes and furnishings.”
The head of architecture, James Paul, who designed the Matthew Building, put into practice what he was teaching.
Architecture, with a mostly male student body at the time, was situated on level six. They were able to look down on
interior design literally and metaphorically over the balcony as remembered by Jane Cameron a student and alumni
of Interior Design 1974. It could be interpreted through his design that his outlook of architecture was superior to
interior design which still to this day is studied largely by women. Similar decisions conducted by the school also
reflect this point.
Before the renovations in 2018, the female toilet on the fifth floor was originally a male toilet. To indicate this
change “WO” has been scribbled in permanent marker in front of “MAN.” To enter the toilets, female students
would have to overcome a broken door handle and pass by urinals which had not been removed and replaced by
facilities that were female accommodating. Whilst historic plans were unable to be found, it is hopeful there were
services for women on the fifth floor, given that this floor is where interior design was originally located.
The graffitied sign, faulty door handle and lack of earlier renovations despite yearly student complaints
demonstrated a disregard for female equality within the building. Had James Duncan of Jordanstone still been alive
he would have unlikely have stood for this given his advocacy and involvement in improving female education and
equality.
It betrays the intentions of the Duncan of Jordanstone’s bequest that established the art school. Ironically interior
design is not on the top floor, above architecture, but this likely due to practicality as interior design is a small course
and requires less space.
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