The power of the subconscious

In Land of Stone I spent some time tracing the history of the partially infilled colonnade at Edfu through Alexander Thomson's use of the same motive to several recent works in Glasgow by Elder & Cannon. The form seemed designed to introduce a measure of insubstantiality in the wall, to explore its depth and imply the infinite extension of the colonnade while, at the same time, directing attention to the entablature. These were all aspects of the form discussed by Thomson in his writings and implicit in his architecture. At Edfu and Shettleston the upper part is open while Thomson's use of it at Oakfield between windows is backed by a solid panel and disguised by an anthemion. Despite these additions it still seemed to me that Thomson was following the principles of the Edfu motive. I was never certain whether this was an original notion of mine developed in the later stages of writing the book or whether it was implicit or even explicit in something I had read but subsequently forgotten. I couldn't ever recall having seen such an exposition and liked to imagine it was my conception. Perhaps someone will disabuse me of this.

However, a recent search through old drawings of mine threw up this student project of 1982: a large leisure centre replacement for Warrender Swimming Baths in Edinburgh. And there it was: the partially infilled colonnade, its potential infinite extension, the relative insubstantiality of the wall and the heavy entablature. Had I been carrying this image from a forgotten project deep in my subconscious for nigh on 40 years for it to resurface, also subconsciously, as I sought to unravel some continuing ideas in a strand of Scottish architecture. On recovering my drawing I was surprised to see the marked similarity to the form of the Elder & Cannon designs. Are there other topics raised in Land of Stone that have their origin in equally forgotten projects? Should I investigate or leave well alone?

I think some of my other earlier design drawings need further investigation.