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Page\Park win planning for Tweedbank tapestry gallery

Page\Park win planning for Tweedbank tapestry gallery

October 19 2015

$Page\Park win planning for Tweedbank tapestry gallery$

Scottish Borders Council has approved plans for a tapestry gallery in the Borders village of Tweedbank, custom-built to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

The gallery will showcase all 143m of the tapestry which depicts key historical events of the past 12,000 years after being painstakingly assembled by hundreds of people working in sewing teams.

Arranged over two levels the centre will host a reception, shop, temporary gallery, cafe and supporting services on the ground floor with the tapestry itself located above, situated beneath a dramatic trussed roof that has been modeled on the flower of the thistle.

In a statement the architects observed: “The external form of the building reflects its function as a plinth to a remarkable gallery above. It is proposed the first floor gallery is wrapped externally in a solid, decorative skin that would create a unique and iconic image for the building, worthy of this great artwork. The ground floor would then be wrapped in glass to create an open and easy flow of movement from the new train station, street and surrounding communities into the building.”

12 Comments

#1 Posted by The Bairn on 19 Oct 2015 at 13:20 PM

Pointless...excuse the pun.
Nothing against the architectural team you understand but why waste money on a new building on virgin land at the end of a 'new' railway track to house a piece of trivia thought up by people with nothing more important to do and then try to justify its creation by dressing it up as Scotland's newest tourist attraction...WHY?
When councils across the land are addressing budget constraints are we seriously expected to believe that this will generate enough funds each year to pay for its upkeep?
Just a big white elephant for political gains.

#2 Posted by CADMonkey on 19 Oct 2015 at 13:41 PM

Bairn, what is the political gain here?
Just because you don't like tapestry, don't assume everyone else thinks the same.

#3 Posted by The Bairn on 19 Oct 2015 at 14:08 PM

This item was welcomed with open arms and dare I say championed by the Scottish National Party pre-independence referendum to encapsulate Scottishness and pinch a few more votes....enuff said.
Its a mish mash of standard sewing embroidery work depicting various events in Scottish history most people do not care to remember. Maybe the Scottish Government should stop the navel gazing parochialism and get on with the real business of making parklets / poverty history!! LOL

#4 Posted by Joan of Arc on 19 Oct 2015 at 14:16 PM

Nothing quite like the tapestry at Angers of course, but i can just hear those french lieges all those years ago giving it, 'why waste money on a new castle on virgin land at the end of a long and dusty road to house a piece of trivia thought up by people with nothing more important to do and then try to justify its creation by dressing it up as France's newest pilgrimage destination ...WHY?' -

Just a big, loud and tedious monetarist argument that sounds like a Stewart Lee comedy sketch about Paul Nuttall of UKIP

Anyway, I for one am glad this building will exist to house this tapestry. I am also glad to see a piece of architecture that is 'made' for once, rather than it being an assembly of components.

Mon Dieu!

#5 Posted by The Bairn on 19 Oct 2015 at 14:43 PM

#4 nice one Joan at least you have sense of humour and I do admire a strong woman!
But why build just for the sake of building.
We are supposed to be in an age of sustainability, environmentally friendliness and lowering our carbon footprint where possible.
This is just plain folly in my opinion

#6 Posted by Roddy on 19 Oct 2015 at 15:27 PM

You can almost feel the disappointment in the children’s hearts when their parents suggest, let’s go to that new tapestry visitors centre.

#7 Posted by joan of arc on 19 Oct 2015 at 15:56 PM

Revenir sous votre roche!
Je le répète encore une fois. Mon Dieu!

In your myopic and banal world view, we are born, we produce, we die. All is folly. End of.
But you give yourself away in comment #3. The truth is you really don't give a shit for sustainability, environmental friendliness and lowering our carbon footprint, that front is just a justification for your completely mean-spirited approach to the gift that is life.

I look forward to visiting this building and seeing the tapestry in all its glory.

#8 Posted by The Bairn on 19 Oct 2015 at 16:31 PM

#7 and do you envisage free admission?
After all gorilla in a suit is still a gorilla...