Glasgow’s Burrell Collection has been named last night as the winner of the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, following a major refurbishment by John McAslan + Partners.
The Burrell Collection is one of the leading museums in the country: a Scottish cultural gift housed within a seminal late 20th century building, originally designed by Barry Gasson, John Meunier and Brit Andresen. John McAslan + Partners were tasked with undertaking the most comprehensive refurbishment of the museum since its opening in 1983: repairing the Grade A listed building, upgrading its environmental performance, and finding ways to enable more of the collection to be displayed. The result was hailed by the Doolan Award judges as “an outstanding example of problem-solving and future-proofing that has rejuvenated an old friend”, with the judges particularly impressed by how John McAslan + Partners’ respectful and deferential approach has transformed the building, without losing any of its architectural integrity.
The Doolan Award judges said that John McAslan + Partners’ refurbishment of the Burrell Collection “makes a bold declaration about the role of architecture – a renewed confidence and belief in it – at a time when Glasgow and Scotland’s creative and cultural industries are in peril.”
John McAslan, Founder of John McAslan + Partners said:
"When we first became engaged on the Burrell in 2012, the building and its magnificent collections were at risk, visitor numbers had dramatically dropped over the years, and there was no funding on the horizon to repair this wonderful but forlorn cornucopia of art. However within the next decade we were part of the team that had saved the building, transformed it into an exemplar of ecological renovation, engaged over 15,000 members of the local community in its renewal, and helped encourage 1.5mn visitors to visit this beloved treasure trove of 9,000 cultural artefacts spanning 6,000 years of civilisation. For us all at John McAslan + Partners, projects don’t come more worthwhile than this and we are honoured to receive the RIAS Doolan Award that plays such an important role in celebrating the transformative power of architecture in society at large."
images: ©Hufton + Crow
