Bathhouse Glasgow Visual Arts, Merchant City

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The Bathhouse Glasgow Arts Centre

Bathhouse Arts Centre : Osborne Street building design by RMJM Architects, Scotland

post updated 16 December 2023

Design: RMJM Architects

Location: Osborne Street

Images of completed Bathouse Arts Centre Glasgow – by Neale Smith, Jun 2010:

Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow
photo : Neale Smith

Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow

The Bathhouse is a new visual arts centre in the Merchant City arts quarter designed by RMJM’s Glasgow office.

Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow
Merchant City property photos : Neale Smith

The building is an artistic school with internationally acclaimed artist Peter Howson working, living and living on site, as well as, tutoring three students in incubator studios every year. It is hoped the project will become a must-see tourist attraction for Glasgow allowing the visitors to meet the artists and follow the painting process from easel to the photography room, print studio, framing area and gallery. A shop and restaurant will complete the accommodation.

Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Merchant City Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow building Glasgow Visual Arts Merchant City
Merchant City building photos : Neale Smith

The project is being developed and operated by Peter Howson’s charity, The Third Step. His powerful figurative work has made him one of the foremost British artists of his generation. The charity works to promote access to visual art and to fund drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes.

Arts Centre Glasgow Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Osborne Street Osborne Street building design by RMJM Architects
Osborne Street building design photos : Neale Smith

The site is a derelict washhouse and bathhouse in Osborne Street, Glasgow.

RMJM are retaining the existing sandstone shell. New timber panels slide from behind the refurbished walls creating the first floor gallery space above the entrance and restaurant. A new rooftop level accommodates an apartment for the artist.

RMJM have worked closely with the charity not only on developing the brief and lodging a planning application, but also giving advice on site acquisition, marketing, the business plan and exploring funding avenues.

RMJM Architects – Building information, 26 Aug 2005
Fresh Start for Glasgow Bathhouse

RMJM’s proposals for the transformation of a former bathhouse into a new studio space and gallery for renowned Scots artist Peter Howson were given the go ahead this week. The 19th century building, in Glasgow’s Merchant City, will be extended and refurbished to form an art gallery, artists’ studios, living space and a restaurant, which will be known as the Bath-House Gallery.

Historic Merchant City building
Osborne Street building image from RMJM Architects Jul 2005

The project is the first venture of The Third Step, a charity created by Peter Howson and John Mullan to help recovering alcoholics and drug addicts as well as to promote access to the visual arts. Peter Howson will work and live in the new space and tutor three students every year.

Featuring a principal studio space with a glass wall, passers-by and visitors to the gallery will be able to watch the internationally-acclaimed artist and his students at work. Visitors can meet the artists and follow the painting process from easel to the photography room, print studio, framing area and gallery. There will be three further studios in the development as well as a gallery space for the display of student work and up-and-coming Scottish artists. All proceeds from paintings, prints and postcards sold at the gallery will be invested into the Third Step.

The derelict bathhouse on the city’s Osborne Street has lain empty for more than 30 years. RMJM have proposed to retain the existing sandstone shell and insert new timber panels which will slide from behind the refurbished walls creating the first floor gallery space above the entrance and restaurant. A new rooftop level will accommodate an apartment for the artist.

RMJM Director Paul Stallan commented on the project: “We have worked closely with The Third Step, not only on developing the brief and lodging a planning application, but also giving advice on site acquisition, marketing, the business plan and exploring funding avenues. It is a fantastic project to be involved in and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Peter Howson and his team.”

Work is likely to take eight months on the £750,000 project and the gallery is expected to open mid-2006.

Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow images / information from RMJM Architects

RMJM

Location: Osborne Street, Glasgow, in Strathclyde, southwest Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Comments / photos for the Bathhouse Arts Centre Glasgow Building – Architecture design by RMJM Architects on Osborne Street, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK, page welcome.