Town’s architectural gems need your vote
Dollan Baths and Museum of Rural Life in top 100
Two East Kilbride landmarks have been named as among the top 100 buildings of the last century.
The Dollan Aqua Centre and The Museum of Rural Life in Kittochside are in the list announced by The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
Members of the public will have the chance to vote for their favourite building as part of the Festival of Architecture next year.
The Scotstyle list, which features buildings from 1916 right up to the present day, has been compiled by RIAS as a celebration of Scottish architecture.
Designed by Alexander Buchanan Campbell, the Dollan Baths were opened in 1968 as Scotland’s first 50-metre (although not Olympic standard) swimming pool.
Its unusual arched roof design, sitting atop Brouster Hill, has long been one of East Kilbride’s most recognisable landmarks.
In 1993, the international conservation organisation DOCOMOMO listed the Dollan Aqua Centre as one of 60 key monuments in Scottish postwar architecture. It was listed in 2002 as a Category A building by Historic Scotland.
But the building hasn’t been without controversy, closing several times for urgent repairs.
Structural engineering surveys showed that parts of the pool surround and pool tank were in a state of near collapse and emergency work had to be carried out to install temporary structural supports.
In 2009 it was closed to allow a substantial programme of works, consisting of structural repairs and replacements and the installation of new structural supports.
This required a significant amount of structural engineering design input. Fortunately, the structure of the unique roof was not affected. It re-opened in May 2011 and the completion of the major repair and refurbishment contract cost over £9 million.
Councillor Hamish Stewart, chair of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, said: “As the operators of the iconic Dollan Aqua Centre, we are of course delighted to see it included in the list of top 100 Scottish buildings of the last 100 years.
“From the very beginning, the Top 100 Dollan Aqua Centre has attracted comment for its daring design and impact sat on top of Brouster Hill in East Kilbride.
“South Lanarkshire Council demonstrated their commitment to the building with a major refurbishment completed in 2010 and, 48 years since opening, the Dollan Aqua Centre continues to offer top class swimming, fitness and health suite facilities to the residents of East Kilbride and beyond.”
Meanwhile, The National Museum of Rural Life, which opened in 2001, cost more than £9 million and was made possible through a partnership between the National Trust for Scotland, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and a number of private funders.
It features a 50,000 sq ft museum and visitor centre, the Georgian buildings of Wester Kittochside Farm, the speciesrich fields and hedgerows around it and a 60 acre events area.
Shirley Maciver, general manager of the National Museum of Rural Life, said: “Designed by Page\Park Architects, the National Museum of Rural Life is a stylish, vibrant building which meets the requirements of a 21st century museum beautifully.
“Staff and visitors alike love the architecture of the museum, which is strikingly modern while making a nod to traditional agricultural buildings. We are delighted that it has been named as one of the top 100 Scottish buildings of the last century.”
More prominent architectural gems on the list include the arches at the City Chambers in Glasgow, the Scottish Parliament and Stirling University.
To give the East Kilbride buildings your vote go to www. foa2016.com