Designers reveal radical proposals for Perth City Hall

‘Really important day’ for Fair City as plans for £20 million project are unveiled

Leading European architects have unveiled their radical visions for the future of Perth City Hall.

A rooftop garden, huge glass walls, an “external skystair” and a gallery described as “Perth’s Living Room” all feature in eye-catching concepts for the long-vacant building.

The proposals were produced as part of a global contest to find a designer for the £20 million project. Perth and Kinross Council want to turn the empty hall into a major cultural attraction, capable of bringing in more than 100,000 visitors a year.

Local authority leaders received about 70 ideas from designers across the world. These have been whittled down to a shortlist of just five.

The designs went on display at the council’s High Street headquarters.

Feedback from the public will be used to inform a final decision to be taken by councillors, following advice from an expert panel, in August.

Fiona Robertson, the council’s head of culture and community development, said: “This is a really important day for us. We are looking at the redevelopment of Perth City Hall as part of a suite of big capital projects, including the new Perth Theatre and the museum and art gallery.

“This is all part of a compelling case we are putting forward to make Perth one of Europe’s great small cities. It’s part of a wider jigsaw puzzle.

“We know, and we’re often being told, that Perth doesn’t have that special headline attraction, something that attracts more than 100,000 people to the city each year. With city hall we can get that attraction and that will be not just of benefit to Perth but the surrounding region.”

She said the new building was still scheduled to open in 2021 but that construction times had not been agreed.

Charles Kinnoull, chairman of Culture Perth and Kinross, said: “It’s extraordinary that these designers can take a blank canvas like our city hall and come up with such different, interesting visions.”

Council leader Ian Campbell confirmed the new look hall could become home to the Stone of Destiny, subject to ongoing negotiations.

He said: “At the end of the day, the decision will be made by councillors – but not councillors alone.

“We will have help from various eminent architects, town planners... who will give us good advice about what they think is both affordable, but will also give us the status of a building which is worthy for the city of Perth.”

We will have help from various eminent architects, town planners...” IAN CAMPBELL