Hinterland

This year Scotland is celebrating their architecture and design, apparently they have set out a programme of sectors to celebrate, last year was food and drink. What a great idea.

A few weeks ago I was driving along listening to Radio4 and there were a few people chatting about a building near Glasgow. A huge modernist building commissioned by the Catholic Church, St Peter's Seminary and designed by two young architects from Glasgow. Sadly it was only in use as a teaching college for 13 years and now is derelict, there are plans to restore the heart of the building whilst allowing the rest to remain derelict. As part of the year of architecture they have placed light installations and performances in the building and for a week it is open to the public (ticket sales proved popular and was sold out on most days).

When I got home I looked up some images of the building. Then immediately booked tickets, for 9pm on the 23rd, pleased that at night at least the installations must be at their most effective.

So we drive up shortly after lunch, stopping off in Glasgow for drinks and catch up with two friends whom Fenner has known for a number of years now. I have to say he manages to pick friends very well, I sat there listening and chatting and very aware how lucky I am to have people like this around us. Sadly we soon had to shoot off up to Helensburgh.

Quick check in at the (very nice) B&B and a great little walk down to the pier to get the bus to the event. Helensburgh is a wonderful little town, set on a grid system it feels a tad American, it's lovely and clean the building and homes are beautiful.

The bus ferries you fifteen minutes out of town, up a single track and rather muddy road through woodland to the building. You are asked to follow the guided path around the building and to keep voices low. Then they give you a walking stick with a light at the base and off you go, one by one, through a small woodland path lit up beautifully.

The building itself is breathtaking. Concrete in construction with monstrous over hangs and long curved walkways. Graffiti is everywhere, everything having been stripped from it except for the concrete skeleton, it feels so urban. The image in the blog is of the heart of the main building, actors dressed as somber welders slowly paced around this area as though they were tracing the pattern of daily worship that took place in the seminary. It was mesmerising to watch.

I am so glad we went in the evening and I feel incredibly lucky to have been there.

We have decided to return once the renovation work has been completed. Though already I am worrying how they will arrange access up that little road!

S