Dome-thing special
For over 160 years it has towered above the town, an immutable and iconic landmark that spans the generations.
Now however, we are getting a tantalising glimpse into what Hamilton Mausoleum could become.
A design competition has produced a number of remarkable ideas – some practical and some perhaps more fanciful – for the 128ft structure.
More than 100 people submitted their ideas for giving the mausoleum a face-lift.
And the judges were impressed with the submissions that ranged from landscaping the area around the structure to filling it with water so that people can dive and look at tropical fish.
But it was John Kennedy who grabbed first place with a design called ‘The Invisible Landscape’ that combined an immersive virtual reality experience within the mausoleum with a new design of the land that surrounds it.
Ian Mcallan, Provost of South Lanarkshire Council, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be one of the judges in this fantastic competition.
“The entries were inventive, inspirational and at times quite moving – a true testament to Hamilton’s iconic mausoleum.
“After much deliberation, the entry by John Kennedy, which sought to re-imagine the landscape around the mausoleum in a more formalised manner, was chosen by the judges as the first-placed winner.”
The design competition invited ideas on how Hamilton Mausoleum and the nearby Keeper’s Lodge could be preserved for the cultural benefit of future generations. And John’s winning entry showed how the mausoleum could be re-purposed into a small museum presenting the history of the Hamilton estate.
Exhibition cases would display artefacts associated with Hamilton Palace, on loan from other museums from around the world.
He also made the case that virtual reality reconstructions of the original palace could also create an immersive experience on a grand scale inside the mausoleum.
John even had plans for the area surrounding the landmark, creating a new grand avenue lined with birch trees to the Keeper’s Cottage.
The cottage itself would have a small coffee kiosk and public washroom for visitors to the Low Parks.
The Glasgow Institute of Architects invited the design ideas and their president Phil Zoechbauer said: “Having lived in Hamilton and passing the iconic mausoleum structure many times, this competition has been an opportunity to look at it – and the possibilities that surround it – with fresh eyes. As a panel, we were collectively impressed by the originality of ideas and quality of submissions.
“The selected schemes were diverse in their approaches to re-imagining what Hamilton Mausoleum and its Keeper’s Lodge could be, ranging from the fantastical to the light-touch, and their potential for bringing these monuments back to life are inspiring.”
Guest judge Professor John Hume OBE said:” The proposal greatly enhances the setting and improves the landscape value of the area around the mausoleum whilst facilitating the competition brief and drawing attention to the mausoleum and Keeper’s Lodge, whilst also being an asset to the town of Hamilton.”
Ross Lambie, representing the Hamilton Mausoleum Trust, also noted: “The winning proposal by John Kennedy set out a robust and adaptable masterplan for the wider site, breaking the hinterland up into defined zones, each taking advantage of an existing under utilised attribute.
“The trust congratulates John for his winning entry: it has given us delicious food for thought on the future of the mausoleum and Keeper’s Lodge.”
From further afield, president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects Judi Keith- Brown said: “John Kennedy’s scheme taught me a lot about the history of the site, especially around the great north avenue.
“The reinstatement of this, combining the man made with the biodiversity of the site including the wetlands, makes for a very beautiful and achievable scheme.”
Second place went to Ryan Wilson of Graeme Nicholls Architects with a design called ‘Form Follows Fiction’ that would see the buildings repurposed as a storytelling centre and writers’ retreat.
Third place was taken by Ciaran Magee for his ‘Hamilton Mausoleum’ submissions that tackled the buildings’ dereliction and inaccessibility to provide a public and civic space.
An honourable mention was given to the entry ‘Living Waters’ by Harriet Ridout that filled the mausoleum with tropical fish so that people could dive and look at them.