laser light shining from a stained glass window at Kirk of St Nicholas, Spectra festival of Light, Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen; Scots: Aiberdeen ; Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain; Latin: Aberdonia) is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 37th most populous built-up area, with an official population estimate of 196,670 for the city of Aberdeen itself and 228,990 for the local authority area. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen Nicknames include the Granite City, the Grey City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands. During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, which can sparkle like silver because of its high mica content. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, other nicknames have been the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe.The area around Aberdeen has been settled since at least 8,000 years ago, when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don. The city has a long, sandy coastline and a marine climate. Aberdeen received Royal Burgh status from David I of Scotland (1124–53), transforming the city economically. The city's two universities, the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, and Robert Gordon University, which was awarded university status in 1992, make Aberdeen the educational centre of the north-east of Scotland. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world[7] and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland Aberdeen has won the Britain in Bloom competition a record-breaking ten times and hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, a major international event which attracts up to 1000 of the most talented young performing arts companies. In 2012, Mercer named Aberdeen the 56th most liveable city in the World, as well as the fourth most liveable city in Britain. In 2012, HSBC named Aberdeen as a leading business hub and one of eight 'super cities' spearheading the UK's economy, marking it as the only city in Scotland to receive this accolade.

SPECTRA 2016, Aberdeen’s stunning Festival of Light returns to the city to celebrate the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture & Design! See our beautiful city in a different light and take an illuminating journey of discovery through inspiring and interactive light installations. Growing from last year’s home at Union Terrace Gardens to incorporate other city centre sites including St Nicholas Kirkyard, Marischal College and Seventeen, the festival will feature major public realm and installations alongside new experimental works from the creative community. Celebrating the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture & Design through this year’s theme “Spark of Inspiration”, Aberdeen City Council in conjunction with Curated Place will deliver the 4 day light festival from the 11th Feb through to the 14th inclusive , bringing together leading international artists with Scottish collaborators. Admission is free at all SPECTRA locations. spectraaberdeen.com/spectra431/
The Kirk of St Nicholas is arguably the most important and undervalued building in the royal burgh of Aberdeen. The present structure is mainly of 18th and 19th century date, but incorporates portions of the 12th century church and stands on the site of the 15th century building, which was one of the largest and most prestigious burgh churches in Scotland. The archaeological significance of the Kirk and its precinct has several facets: Surviving remains of upstanding structures in the transepts dating from the 12th century are of major significance to the study of Scottish mediaeval parish and burgh churches. Fragments of architectural and decorative stonework from earlier church buildings are located at various places within the present structure and are worthy of further study and interpretation. Excavations within Collinson’s Aisle (North transept) in 1974 and evaluation work more recently in 2004 and 2005 have amply demonstrated that archaeological deposits dating to the period of 12th and 15th century structures remain below the present building. It is possible that evidence may also exist below ground of an even earlier church building. It is vital that all these features are protected and, should the opportunity arise, be explored further. Very little is known from archaeological evidence about the form and construction of pre-15th century Scottish burgh churches. The Kirk and Kirkyard have been used for burial for at least 900 years. Several fine monuments of the 17th century and later date survive within the Kirk and Kirkyard, while others have been discovered during recent archaeological work inside the Kirk. Many of the external memorials are in a poor state of repair and there is a need for a programme of detailed recording and conservation work. www.kirk-of-st-nicholas.org.uk/archaeological/

Taken in: United Kingdom / Scotland / Aberdeen (show map)

Taken on: February 13, 2016

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Aberdeen

“Aberdeen City”

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Aberdeenshire “Spectra 2016”

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illuminating

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“Kirk of St Nicholas”

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Sets appears in: • Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire, Scotland • Churches & Cathedrals more » • Night shots • Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD • Textures and colours from the built environment « less

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