The first artists’ impressions of the new Burrell Collection have been unveiled just days after the Glasgow art gallery and museum closed its doors to enable work to begin on the £66 million refurbishment.
Designed by John McAslan and Partners and Event Communications, the blueprints reveal plans to modernise and improve the visitor experience while retaining the architectural integrity of the Category A listed building. Under the plans, a new roof and high performance glazing will make the museum more energy-efficient.
Two new floors of exhibition space will be created so that 90 per cent of the collection can be viewed by the public.
The collection includes rare examples of medieval stained glass, tapestries and sculptures, ancient Chinese ceramics, bronzes and jades, Islamic pile carpets and French paintings.
As well as providing increased access to the collection, including to the lower ground floor stores, improved facilities will include a cafe with access from the park at ground level, enhanced retail opportunities, and landscaped terraces linking the museum to its parkland setting.
Hannah Lawson, a director at John McAslan and Partners, said: “The Burrell provides an inspiring setting for shipping magnate Sir William Burrell’s vast collection of art and antiquities within a category A listed building of international significance.
“John McAslan and Partners are delighted to be leading a team dedicated to the comprehensive repair and refurbishment of this architectural masterpiece.
“By providing a new circulation core we can open up new parts of the gallery to visitors and greatly increase the display area for the collections.”
Sir Angus Grossart, chairman of Burrell Renaissance, which is overseeing the redevelopment, said: “The designs will see the museum undergo the most comprehensive modernisation since opening to international acclaim in 1983.
“The proposals will deliver the high quality and innovative solutions for this exciting project.
“We expect to be able to show previously unseen works from this rich collection, and strengthen the reach of this extraordinary world-class museum.”
Glasgow City Council deputy leader, Archie Graham, said: “Sir William Burrell’s legacy has been described as the greatest gift a city has ever received and we have a moral duty to ensure it is housed in the finest of buildings.
“Having seen the early design concepts, I’ve no doubt we will create an outstanding museum space, which reveals the incredible beauty, quality and depth of the collection.
“The Burrell Collection is a masterpiece and the refurbished and re-displayed museum will be one of Scotland’s finest cultural assets.”
The Burrell Collection is scheduled to reopen in 2020. Glasgow City Council has agreed to fund up to 50 per cent of the overall project cost with the UK government awarding an additional £5m.
