Travel To: Burrell Collection

Join us we travel to Glasgow, Scotland for a tour of newly refurbished Burrell Collection, a decorative and fine arts museum in Glasgow. Situated in the grounds of Pollok Park, the museum was originally opened by QEII in 1983, and is one of Scotland’s internationally recognized modern architectural triumphs. In the intervening years, however, the museum had fallen into some disrepair and was falling behind the advancements in museological standards.

Consequently, Glasgow Museum engaged a design and architectural team, John McAslan + Partners, to meet not only the original aspirations of William Burrell but those of Glasgow Museums in providing an accessible and sustainable museum suitable for the 21st century. It is now a much-loved national icon, and its ‘Grade A’ Historic Environment Scotland Listing recognizes its international significance in 20th century modern architecture.

The project team delivered a profound transformation that put accessibility at the heart of the experience, maximizing visitor engagement and interpreting gems rarely displayed before. The museum’s gallery space has been increased by 35 percent, allowing important and unique objects from the Collection, not seen for decades, or those that have never been on display, to go on view.

This was all achieved within the spirit and aesthetics of the original vision—expressing a meeting of human culture with the beauty of nature, achieved through fascinating objects set within stunning settings, changing natural light, a beautiful palette of materials and a very special atmosphere.

This event is part of Archtober's virtual Travel To series, in partnership with Bloomberg Connects. The Travel To series seeks to highlight Bloomberg Connects partners that feature iconic architecture and historically significant sites across the United States and around the world. Join us as curators, preservationists, historians (and more!) bring these places and spaces alive in the comfort of your home.

Speakers:
Anne Perry, Design Manager, Burrell Renaissance Project, Glasgow Museums
Katherine Watts, Associate, John McAslan + Partners

About the Speakers:
Anne Perry led the design team on the Burrell Project and managed all design elements in the project including the gallery displays, graphics, retail, catering, and orientation and was responsible for the coordination between the architectural team and the exhibition designers to achieve the highest standards in an international iconic museum. This contributed to the Burrell winning multiple awards, including the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year. Perry previously worked as Design Manager on the redevelopment of the highly successful Kelvingrove Museum and Project Leader of the National Trust Burns Museum in Ayrshire.

Katherine Watts is an architect accredited in Building Conservation, a RIBA-accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, and leads the Conservation and Heritage team at John McAslan + Partners. Watts has extensive experience in the alteration and repair of historic buildings and wide-ranging experience in leading the design team for complex projects within historic buildings. Watts was involved in the redevelopment of King’s Cross Station for a number of years, taking the project from design development to completion, including working closely with the contractors for three years as their heritage advisor. Recently Watts led the transformation of St. Albans Museum and Gallery which was awarded 2019 RIBA (East) Regional Award and RIBA (East) Conservation Award.

About Archtober's Guide on Bloomberg Connects:
Archtober’s Guide on the free Bloomberg Connects App is for anyone interested in connecting with architecture and design. Whether you are an architectural historian, a design enthusiast, a student, or someone having their first architecture experience, the Archtober Guide is designed to help you explore notable contemporary and historical sites across New York City’s five boroughs. Learn more about the Archtober Guide here.

This event is offered virtually. Upon registering, you will receive an email with a Zoom link to access the program.