Museum of Country Life, Kittochside, Page & Park Architects

The Museum of Scottish Country Life, Kittochside, East Kilbride, Strathclyde, Scotland by Page & Park Architects, Glasgow

museum of scottish country life




Page & Park Architects
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
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.

Kittochside, East Kilbride
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
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.

Scotland, Museum of Country Life
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
Museum of Scottish Country Life: image from Page & Park Architects




Scottish Architecture: best scottish buildings of the last three decades

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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