Mecanoo selected to transform city hall into 'cultural gateway' for Perth

– Francine Houben, Mecanoo creative director
A heritage listed city hall Scotland is about to undergo major works, after local authorities in Perth selected Dutch architects Mecanoo to transform the space into a new cultural venue for the city.
Perth & Kinross Council have selected Mecanoo to renovate the listed Perth City Hall, which will feature exhibition galleries, learning suites, a café and shops.
According to the council, the reinvigorated city hall will create "a new gateway" to the city, which will be brought back to life through “light touch” interventions that “embrace the building’s beauty and character, whilst improving accessibility and reinforcing existing connections.”
In the main hall, an inserted volume will create a flexible space for the exhibition of permanent and temporary collections from the council’s cultural archives. To draw visitors into the building, large glass openings will offer passers by interior views, while filling the main space with light. The public space around the building will also be renewed and illuminated by a lighting scheme that visually connects the space with the City Hall.
"Mecanoo stood out as having responded sensitively to the brief, conserving much of the historic building with an innovative and flexible design that will stand the test of time,” said council leader Ian Campbell.
"We felt that they paid particular attention to the needs of a wide range of visitors and the transformation of the area surrounding City Hall into a vibrant, inclusive civic space of which we can be truly proud."
Francine Houben, Mecanoo’s creative director, added: "We’re delighted to have been appointed for this prestigious project. We look forward to working together with the local community and Perth and Kinross Council to create an exciting new cultural destination for Perth."
Virtual reality impressions of the scheme can be explored here.
This isn’t the first time the studio have been tasked with transforming listed buildings into new public spaces that retain their original character. They have also worked on Mies van der Rohe’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC; the Het Hof van Nederland heritage museum in Dordrecht; and New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
Perth Scotland Perth City Hall Mecanoo architecture designb cultureMecanoo complete pavilion gateway for historic hotel and spa estate
Building begins on Mecanoo's 'timeless' Tainan Library
Tulips and triangles star at Mecanoo's elegant gateway to 'the Garden of Europe'
Mecanoo propose Eden Project-style eco-attraction for the Netherlands' Soestdijk Palace
EXCLUSIVE: Mecanoo's Francine Houben tells CLAD about the studio's renovation of New York Public Library
FEATURE: Interview – Francine Houben


The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks

First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat

"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects

SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno

Timbaland, music producer to the stars, joins forces with Myndstream to co-create music that improves health and wellbeing

Kerzner's new 'fitness hotel', Siro One Zabeel, opens for reservations

Back in time – visitors experience 1960s healthcare in Black Country Museum's new living history centre

First look at Virgin Active's all-new luxury Wimbledon club with wellness offering

Morgan’s Wonderland reveals plans for largest expansion in its history

Hacienda Xcanatun’s new Angsana Spa brings the outdoors in with nature-centric design

Sports Illustrated Resorts to expand across US with active lifestyle at their core

Conscious wellbeing inspires Knightsbridge’s newest urban retreat, The Hvn

Jon Williams and Tom Edwards launch nature-inspired Forest House

Private women's wellness club Kintsugi Space launching in Abu Dhabi this November

Therme appoints UK CEO as £250m Therme Manchester gets planning approval

Construction work to begin on Universal Resort Beijing's second phase 'by 2025'

Sparcstudio gives Center Parcs' Aqua Sana concept an extensive forest-inspired makeover

Studio Apostoli plans wellness oasis in Mongolian national park

Soho House to expand with new properties in UK, North America and Latin America

Art Processors win Fast Co Design Award for Sydney Opera House 50th anniversary synchronised show

September reopening for Britain's oldest lido following £9m transformation

Rixos to open Turkish-inspired beachfront spa resort in Dubai Islands

Rosewood’s second Austrian Asaya spa to open in restored 15th-century castle

1 Hotel Mayfair launches with Bamford Wellness Spa and biophilic design by GA Group

Otherworld Philadelphia is a place where 'anything is possible'

Mandarin Oriental opens first retreat in Greece and announces upcoming Sardinian property and spa

Third Space joins Six Senses at luxury development The Whiteley

GymNation – owned by JD Gyms – opens latest club in Dubai and plans Middle East expansion

Entertainment resort and waterpark planned for Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Plans revealed for US$2bn Oklahoma theme park
Early-onset MS inspired Adria Lake to explore resilience as both a healing modality and an approach to design in the creation of her new home and company headquarters in Colorado
Tom Walker exploresthe storybehind TottenhamHotspur’sgroundbreakingnew footballstadium