5 Rubislaw Den South, Aberdeen

Probably designed by A Marshall Mackenzie in the late 19th century, 5 Rubislaw Den South is a two-storey, four-bay double villa. The exterior is constructed from rough-faced coursed grey granite, with finely finished granite used for the margins, and a rough-faced pink granite base course and dividing band course. The building features overhanging eaves and queenpost detailing to the gableheads.

The north (principal) elevation is asymmetrical, with 5 Rubislaw Den South comprising two bays to the left and a single window to the ground and first floors of the bay to the right, topped by a bipartite rectangular dormer to the attic floor. A gabled bay to the left has a three-light canted window extending from the ground to the first floor, a parapet forming a balcony to the attic floor, and a tripartite window set within the gablehead of the attic floor. 7 Rubislaw Den South has two bays to the right, a doorway in the bay to the right at ground floor featuring a pilastered, panelled timber door flanked by glazed panels and a letterbox fanlight, a window above, and a skylight to the attic. A shallow, rectangular-plan tripartite window extends through the ground and first floors of the bay to the right, with a decoratively scrolled parapet that breaks the eaves and incorporates a central cartouche. A bipartite rectangular dormer sits above the attic floor.

The west elevation is gabled, with a window centrally positioned on the first floor and an addition to the outer right. The south elevation displays a gabled bay advanced to the right, featuring a three-light bowed window through the ground and first floors and a tripartite window in the gablehead. The remainder of the south elevation was not visible in 2000.

The east elevation is symmetrical, spanning five bays. The central three bays are faced with rough-faced granite, while the remaining bays are of finer finish. A broad, round-arched doorway is centrally located on the ground floor, featuring moulded impost detail and alternating rough-faced and finely finished granite voussoirs with a keystone detail. The panelled door is deeply recessed. Windows flank the doorway to the left and right, while the first floor has regular fenestration with a corniced central window. A bull's-eye opening is located below the central gablet at attic floor level, with wallhead stacks clasping the gable to the left and right. Regular fenestration is found in the outer bays.

The windows are predominantly two-pane timber sash and case. The roof is covered in grey slate, with decoratively pierced terracotta ridge tiles. Stone skews have blocked skewputts, while the wallhead, gablehead, and stacks break the pitch with circular cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present.

The interiors were not inspected in 2000.

Square-plan, rough-faced granite gatepiers, topped with pyramidal caps, mark the northeast boundary, with low coped Aberdeen bond walls flanking to the left and right. Higher rubble walls form the remainder of the boundary.