Glasgow museum named as Scotland’s building of the year

The Burrell Collection is one of the country’s leading museums and housed within a late 20th century building, originally designed by Barry Gasson, John Meunier and Brit Andersen and it houses the art collection of Sir William Burrell and Constance, Lady Burrell.

The refurbishment was the most comprehensive of the museum since its opening in 1983, repairing the Grade A listed building, upgrading its environmental performance and finding ways to enable more of the collection to be displayed.

The result was hailed by the Doolan Award judges as an ‘outstanding example of problem solving and future proofing’.

The Burrell Collection is free to enter and the refurb has played a key role in helping to bring more visitors to it. The museum can now accommodate large visitor groups and with improved connections to the surrounding park, it is welcoming new audiences.

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 The Doolan Award judges said that John McAslan & Partners’ refurbishment of the Burrell Collection “makes a bold declaration about the role of architecture – a renewed confidence and belief in it – at a time when Glasgow and Scotland’s creative and cultural industries are in peril.”

RIAS President Karen Anderson PRIAS said: “I’m delighted that the Burrell Collection has been named as the winner of this year’s RIAS Doolan Award. In the skilled hands of John McAslan & Partners, one of Scotland’s architectural gems has been given a new lease of life – saving the building and its incredible collection, and making the museum greener and more welcoming to its thousands of visitors. It is a fantastic example of how an existing building can be adapted to address new and future needs, and is unquestionably this year’s best building in Scotland.”

Other buildings that were up for the award include Ardoch in Aberdeenshire, North Gate Social Housing in Glasgow, The Fruitmarket Gallery in Eidnburgh and the University of Aberdeen’s Science and Teaching Hub.