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How did a maverick Scottish architect revolutionise the design of UK skateparks?

Forty years ago, Iain Urquhart had a vision: to create Britain鈥檚 first full-scale, architecturally planned, outdoor concrete skatepark 鈥� in Livingston, West Lothian.

Iain visited emerging parks across California, taking specialist advice from skateboarders and designers. When his masterpiece opened in 1981 he persuaded some of the biggest international stars of skateboarding to come to Scotland to 鈥渟kate Livi鈥�.

Iain died two years later, aged just 44 鈥� yet Livingston Skatepark continues to thrive. Tony Hawk, perhaps the world鈥檚 best-known skateboarder, describes Livi as 鈥渟uper challenging鈥� such a legendary spot鈥�.

How did Iain Urquhart convince funders to support his ambitious cultural venture? How did local people react to a vast, Noguchi-esque concrete 鈥渕oonscape鈥� being constructed for the sole purpose of a niche recreational activity, on what had been a lush green valley? How has the town of Livingston itself been shaped by its pioneering skatepark?

With skateboarding now an Olympic sport, the documentary maker and sound artist Steve Urquhart presents an audio memorial to his uncle Iain, blending exclusive and personal access to the late architect鈥檚 archive with the sounds, music and voices of skateboard culture and counter-culture. In doing so, he reveals a bigger story of artistic ambition and cultural aspiration in Britain鈥檚 vibrant 20th century 鈥渘ew towns鈥濃�� and a surprising connection with a swimming pool, created by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto鈥�

Includes music featured in acclaimed skate films and video games 鈥� from John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Roy Ayers, to Dinosaur Jr, Pixies, Gang Starr, and Lupe Fiasco.

Photo: Jamie Blair and others at Livi Pure Fun Skate Party, 1988 鈥� 漏 Tim Leighton鈥揃oyce, courtesy the Read and Destroy archive.

鈥楲ivingston: A Town For The Lothians鈥� audio extract courtesy of Scotland鈥檚 Moving Image Archive.

Produced and presented by Steve Urquhart
A Far Shoreline production for 91热爆 Radio 3

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