Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park
Architects
The Museum of Scottish Country Life, Kittochside, nr. East Kilbride
Page & Park Architects
1999-2001
0131 247 4377
Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park
Architects
An intriguing collection in a beguiling building. Most people will arrive
by car no doubt, in which case they are greeted by a sombre barn-like
facade with a simple bridge to the powerfrul entrance. The entry is guarded
by huge symmetrical timber-boarded doors, and the bridge deals with the
steep fall to the south. Materials inside are rustic in type and expression
with two types of brick, dull grey concrete beams and purlins and timber
block floors.
Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park
Architects
There is nothing flash about this building: the mature compositions will
certainly appeal to many architects but may seem rather sedate to others.
The spiral route though will surely captivate even the very young. With
a variety of views out of the building and down to the main exhibits,
you slowly approach your quarry: rows of tractors, ploughs and other farming
implements and machines. The 'slabs' of timber forming the balustrade
to the lower ramp slowly peel away in a pleasing way. everywhere is restraint,
no gimmicks, just matter-of-fact form, structure and space.
Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park
Architects
It's worth a walk around the building to see how the internal functions
and spiral are expressed. The palette and restraint allow the building
to lock into the landscape but still hold absolute supremacy. There is
something of the Burrell here in the hard envelope, unrelenting to the
rolls and folds of the land. The workaday materials - especially the timber
walls - remind me of the Tramway; the detailing is sharp with a subtle
hierarchy of finish and articulation. For example the sliding central
'tractor shed' timber door into the Atrium's lower floor varies subtley
from the timber wall behind, quietly elevated in rank.
Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park
Architects
I - and others - got momentarily lost trying to re-emerge from this building
and the spaces are so homogeneous that it can be slightly disorientating.
I didn't mind the extra steps, in fact it was good to explore a new route;
although the building is rigourously crafted the circulation is fairly
free-flowing. This building is a breath of fresh air: intelligent, thoughtful
architecture out in the country.
Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park
Architects
Scottish
Architecture: best scottish buildings of the last three decades
Historic Glasgow: best glasgow buildings
of the past
Glasgow : back to index
As well as the The Museum of Country Life, Page & Park Architects have
completed other key projects in and around Glasgow:-
Italian Centre
Lomond Shores Imax
Another Scottish building by Page & Park Architects:
Maggies
Inverness
Museum
of Scotland
Scottish
Parliament Building
Kelvingrove Museum
Glasgow Museum
- People's Palace
Museum of Country Life Opening Times: Daily 10am - 5pm
Please check with the operators, details correct in late 2005.
Adult £4 Conc £3 Children 12 and under free
NMS Members and NTS Members free (charge for special events).
Address: Museum of Scottish Country Life, Wester Kittochside, Philipshill
Road, off Stewartfield Way, East Kilbride G76 9HR Tel: 0131 247 4377
Museum
of Country Life architects : Page & Park