Glasgow’s Burrell Collection has been named winner of the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland award.
The award, given annually by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), was collected by John McAslan + Partners who carried out the £68.25m Burrell Renaissance project.
Judges said the project was “an outstanding example of problem solving and future proofing that has rejuvenated an old friend”.
It is more than a decade since Mr McAslan and his London-based practice was first asked to consider a revamp of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow
Originally designed by Barry Gasson, John Meunier and Brit Andresen in 1983 the building has been repaired with upgraded services to display more art in an environmentally friendly manner.
The A-listed building houses the collection of shipping magnate Sir William Burrell. Gifted to the city of Glasgow in 1944, it took almost 40 years to find the right location, thanks to the industrialist’s stipulation that it should be far from the city centre and the pollution which might damage priceless artworks.
Opened in 1983, it turned out to be natural elements which caused most harm, with rain leaking through the flat roof onto the galleries below.
The challenge was to make repairs and revive interest in the collection without compromising the integrity of the original design, not least because the original team of John Meunier, Brit Andresen and Barry Gasson were still around.
They too had taken more than a decade to reach their goal, having won a competition to design the museum in 1971.
