Maryhill Burgh Halls

Name:
Maryhill Burgh Halls
Region:
Glasgow
Nominated by:
Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust
Year:
2012
Award category:
General
Project status:
Winner
Architect/Lead designer:
JM Architects

Summary Description

At the centre of Maryhill was a complex of historic, but derelict, listed buildings - baths, fire and police stations, plus the Maryhill Burgh Halls and their unique series of stained glass panels. These highly detailed windows from 1878 showcase the area’s historic trades.

Unseen for nearly 50 years, the opportunity to return these windows to the area provided a focus to the community-led campaign to re-open these buildings as the centrepiece of the area’s regeneration. Over eight years of work has resulted in a modern public hall, café, 10,000 square feet of office space, two recording studios, a nursery for 40 children, meeting rooms, and heritage space, all wrapped around an outdoor courtyard.
The project mixes sensitive restoration with contemporary design, using dynamic building regeneration, sustainable uses, and a well-defined business plan, to ensure that the Halls again fulfil their original purpose as the beating heart of Maryhill’s community.

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Supporting Statement

The Glasgow Herald once described Maryhill as presenting “few attractions to the...

The Glasgow Herald once described Maryhill as presenting “few attractions to the rambler in search of the picturesque”. But the Burgh Halls regeneration, and the return of its stunning historic stained glass, is helping prove otherwise…

The eight-year, £9.5m project has demonstrated best practice by:
• Involving the community throughout, working with local people to identify uses for the buildings, and involving them in the development proposals.
• Undertaking significant ongoing outreach work with organisations and schools to ensure the project is widely understood and supported, making the most of the education and training possibilities to run workshops, visits, talks and tours.
• Recognising the importance of the historic built environment to the wider local area and regenerating three listed buildings on the Buildings at Risk Register; a group of buildings that are of far greater importance and significance together than individually.
• Bringing together careful and sensitive historic building restoration with innovative contemporary design using modern and traditional materials of high quality.
• Balancing restored historic fabric, new build, and façade retention to provide well-designed flexible spaces, safe level access, low-energy ventilation & heating, plus new public outdoor spaces.
• Commissioning a new series of original and creative artworks in metal and glass by local artisans to represent both the past and future of Maryhill.
• Establishing key partnerships with local housing associations, museums, and the Council, with plans developed to complement their scheme to re-open the neighbouring swimming baths.
• Creating a detailed Business Plan, to ensure long-term financial self-sustainability by incorporating a balanced mix of commercial and community spaces.
This project used dynamic building regeneration, and sustainable uses, as a catalyst to ensure that the Halls will again fulfil their wider place-making role as a much needed and enjoyable community resource in a deprived area of Glasgow.

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