Mavisbank House in Midlothian and St Peter's College in Cardross have been included on the World Monuments Fund's watch list for 2008. The two iconic Scottish buildings join treasures such as the cultural sites of Iraq; the St Petersburg skyline in Russia; and Machu Picchu, Peru amongst the world's most endangered cultural heritage sites.
The 2008 World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites was announced yesterday by Bonnie Burnham, president of the WMF, the non-profit organisation that for more than 40 years has helped save hundreds of endangered architectural and cultural sites around the world. This year's list highlights three critical man-made threats: political conflict, unchecked urban and industrial development, and for the first time, global climate change.
The A-listed Mavisbank House is one of the finest examples of neo-classical architecture in Scotland yet was partially destroyed and left in ruin by a fire in 1973. The house featured recently on the BBC series 'Restoration' .
St Peter's College, Cardross by Glasgow based architects Gillespie, Kidd and Coia is widely considered as a masterpiece of post-war Modern architecture, and has suffered dramatically from decay and vandalism over recent years.
Announced every two years, the WMF Watch List acts as a call to action, drawing international public attention to threatened cultural heritage sites across the globe.
The Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Architecture and Design Centre, today welcomed the inclusion of St Peter’s Seminary Cardross on the World Monument 2008 Watch List.
Leonie Bell, Exhibitions Director at The Lighthouse, which will unveil a major survey of the work of Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein this autumn, said:
“St Peter’s Cardross is a seminal MacMillan/Metzstein building and we welcome its inclusion of the in World Monument watch list. We hope that this will provide a focus for discussions on the future of this important example of modernist architecture.”
Macmillan and Metzstein, who are Scotland’s leading living architects, were Creative Directors of Gillespie, Kidd & Coia between 1956 and1987 during which time they designed a range of buildings including Robinson College Cambridge, Wadham College Oxford and many churches in Scotland’s new towns, as well as the Seminary at Cardross. The Lighthouse survey of their work, which includes a major exhibition, a book and two films will be unveiled in November 2007.
For more information on the WMF 2008 Watch List click on the following link
Lighthouse Exhibition
Gillespie, Kidd & Coia, Architecture 1956 - 1987
In June 2006 The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City received a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to work in partnership with Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) to create a unique and ambitious programme of activity celebrating the work of Gillespie, Kidd & Coia.
