The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Top architects queuing up to transform landmark
People will have their say on the visions revealed
Five of the biggest names in UK architecture are vying for the right to redesign Perth City Hall with the building’s re-opening scheduled for 2021
Each has a grand vision for redeveloping the building into a cultural attraction capable of bringing visitors to the city from around the world.
A shortlist has been drawn-up of firms whose experience includes some of the most significant museum and theatre projects in recent history.
They will develop initial design concepts for the building before revealing them to the public in June.
The people of Perth will then have an opportunity to have their say on the firms’ visions before a final decision is taken by Perth and Kinross Council.
It is anticipated that the winning architects will be confirmed by the end of the year with construction work then starting in 2019.
The building would then re-open in 2021 to coincide, the council hopes, with Perth being UK City of Culture bid.
The designers hoping to undertake the project include Austin Smith Lord, Hoskins Architects, LDN, Mecanoo and Richard Murphy Architects.
Together they have been responsible for transforming some of the world’s most treasured historic buildings.
They include the National Museum of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery, Stirling Tolbooth Arts Centre, Perth Theatre, the Urquhart Castle Visitor Centre and the Scottish Mining Museum, together with the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, the National media Museum and the Waterfront Museum in Abu Dhabi.
Perth and Kinross Council voted in June to bring the building back into public use with the vision of increasing the city’s capacity to display collections of national significance, house major touring exhibitions and feature national and oversees loans.
Together with a £10m investment to transform Perth Museum and Art Gallery, it is planned that the two venues will tell the story of how Scotland’s ancient roots were forged in Perth.