The Scotland Festival of Architecture opened on 18th March 2016 with the Hinterland night time event at St. Peter’s Seminary in Cardross, Argyll. The ten day event was a celebration of the modernist masterpiece and marked the culmination of several years of effort to bring new life to the ruined structure. The timing was fitting, as it fell very close to the date when the seminary was opened 50 years ago.
Hinterland gave visitors the last chance to see St. Peter’s Seminary in its current state before work begins to partially restore it. Light installations were installed across the site to highlight the architecture of the building and the details that make it so unique and special. Alongside this, a specially commissioned choral work was played, with music adding depth to the overall experience.
An ambitious project to transform the building into a space for progressive art exhibitions will begin in the near future. St. Peter’s Seminary is world renowned and was protected in 1992 when Historic Scotland granted it A Listed status. Since then there have been a number of ideas for restoration, but all of them have failed for various reasons, including trouble with accessibility and the unique nature of the building. The latest plans were released in 2015 and embrace the current state of the property.
The conservation project will require innovation and a new approach because of the unique demands of St. Peter’s Seminary and the surrounding landscape. The aim is to protect the heritage of the site and preserve it for future generations to enjoy. Ultimately it will become a significant cultural resource and venue for arts once the work is complete.
At Coffey Architects we enjoy seeing projects like this come to fruition because we understand the importance of preserving iconic, culturally significant buildings. We regularly work on the regeneration and renovation of prominent buildings throughout London and beyond, giving them a new purpose and bringing them up to date while preserving their character. This project will ensure that the Seminary can continue to live on and inspire architects and designers alike, and we look forward to seeing the final results.