Mecanoo recommended to bring forward Perth City Hall transformation
August 10 2017
Seeing off four other shortlisted teams Mecanoo will now be tasked with overhauling the current attraction and surrounding public realm to create a £20m museum.
Council leader Ian Campbell commented: "The final decision will be for councillors to make next week, but I’d like to thank all members of the public, local businesses and cultural organisations who took the time to contribute their thoughts. What is clear is that there is a shared enthusiasm to see progress made with the City Hall and the level of public engagement throughout this process has been very pleasing to see.”
Depute chief executive Jim Valentine added: "… 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. The panel felt that Mecanoo 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.”
Detailed designs will now be drawn up ahead of an expected planning application next year, withy work commencing on-site sometime in 2019.
The Mecanoo team also includes BB Heritage Studio, Arup, Aecom, BDP, Cushman & Wakefield and GWP.
Mecanoo secured the public vote with the promise of 'light touch' interventions
The accessible design has been inspired by the desire for transparency, permeability and interactivity
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9 Comments
#1 Posted by Ian on 11 Aug 2017 at 09:44 AM
This looks very promising. I have always felt that both Perth along with Stirling have so much potential but have badly underperformed for far too long. There are recent indications that both places are beginning to get their acts together.
#2 Posted by Beetlejuice on 16 Aug 2017 at 09:01 AM
This is the first time in a long time that I have felt that the council has made the right decision.
I'm sure many will be disappointed that some of the more elaborate schemes were not picked but let's think about this realistically.
Mecanoo is probably the only scheme that is even comes close to fulfilling the scope of works within the proposed budget and is the most sensitive to the building's interior - it is an impressive interior that has held many events and many people have fond memories of over the years.
Let's just hope that when the rationalisation comes due to certain costs, and this will happen undoubtedly, that the essence of the proposals is not lost.
I'm sure many will be disappointed that some of the more elaborate schemes were not picked but let's think about this realistically.
Mecanoo is probably the only scheme that is even comes close to fulfilling the scope of works within the proposed budget and is the most sensitive to the building's interior - it is an impressive interior that has held many events and many people have fond memories of over the years.
Let's just hope that when the rationalisation comes due to certain costs, and this will happen undoubtedly, that the essence of the proposals is not lost.
#3 Posted by Trombe Wall on 17 Aug 2017 at 09:06 AM
How can the third placed team be awarded the commission, against the procurement procedures?
http://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/20729/rias-disappointed-at-perth-city-hall-competition-procedure/?utm_source=Scottish+Construction+Now&utm_campaign=ce3919447b-SCN_16_08_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_da4310d8ed-ce3919447b-66773797
http://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/20729/rias-disappointed-at-perth-city-hall-competition-procedure/?utm_source=Scottish+Construction+Now&utm_campaign=ce3919447b-SCN_16_08_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_da4310d8ed-ce3919447b-66773797
#4 Posted by Mies Van Der Row row row yer boat... on 17 Aug 2017 at 12:35 PM
Nice safe decision taken by P&K (no surprise there). It will suit plain Perth down to the ground - in keeping, but the least exciting of the proposals, and will it attract the 'world class' exhibitions as was stated in the project brief...I don't think so.
Let's leave the dynamism to Dundee!
Let's leave the dynamism to Dundee!
#5 Posted by boaby wan on 17 Aug 2017 at 20:28 PM
The scheme that scored highest for design and is actually deliverable, and a design team obviously charging fees winning a competition?!
Whatever next?
If there's one organisation that should be praising the decision it should be RIAS but instead they want a lesser design that would require more change because the design team was cheaper? Absolute nonsense!
Whatever next?
If there's one organisation that should be praising the decision it should be RIAS but instead they want a lesser design that would require more change because the design team was cheaper? Absolute nonsense!
#6 Posted by Trombe Wall on 18 Aug 2017 at 15:32 PM
#5 - agree entirely.
Still though, procurement rules, if you score highest, you should be awarded the contract. The separate argument is the scoring method / weighting applied.
Still though, procurement rules, if you score highest, you should be awarded the contract. The separate argument is the scoring method / weighting applied.
#7 Posted by boaby wan on 18 Aug 2017 at 15:55 PM
#6 - procurement rules are a load of nonsense, if you can score highest with a design which isn't deliverable or doesnt meet the brief because you're willing to work for nothing then it's a big problem.
#8 Posted by Big Chantelle on 19 Aug 2017 at 15:48 PM
Just shows the lefty concrete modernist brigade that some people can still design new buildings in an Edwardian style! Good job. THis is the standard everyone should aspire to!
#9 Posted by tarah on 21 Aug 2017 at 18:02 PM
Lovely idea - has it any chance of actually being viable though?
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