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THE MAGAZINEAHSS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND www.ahss.org.uk AHSS Founded in 1956 – Speaking for Scotland's Buildings I Autumn 2018 I No. 42 FEATURES | WOMERSLEY | FEATURES Bernat Klein House, High Sunderland (designed 1955). Mosaic detail wall, High Sunderland. Living room looking out to the countryside, High Sunderland. © HES Preserving Womersley: his architecture and art JAMES COLLEDGE grew up in eter Womersley (1923-93) In 1964 he completed the Gala Fairydean REMEMBERING THE RIG the Scottish Borders in the 1950s was a close family friend and Football Stadium (category A listed) at my recollections opposite, no and 60s. After completing his P Netherdale, in Galashiels. Its dramatic Having rounded the tightest of hairpin doubt burnished over time, are the inverted triangles, and use of concrete bends, the road drops down towards a professional training as a Chartered memories I have of visiting him at The and glass, results in an almost ethereally sharp left-hand turn. Before reaching it, Accountant in England he pursued Rig with my parents. Peter himself and light structure for such a muscular use. It there is just enough space to park without his career in Canada, Russia, and the their mutual friend Bernat Klein, textile remains in use today, suffering from the blocking the road. A quick glance to the United States before making France designer, manufacturer and painter, modern commercial needs of advertisers, left reveals a carport, backed by a wall were central to my understanding that but its importance is proudly recognised made of delicate dusky pink brick. The his home in 2015. Throughout his convertible’s there: he’s probably in. an integral part of life is good design. by the current management and there are travels, thanks to the influence Womersley’s career spanned a short 30- fundraising efforts underway to ensure it Having parked, you walk up the covered of his Borders upbringing and year period from the early 1950s to the late remains viable. path, with the same elegant white supports and angular canopy as the carport, family friends, Modernist design 1970s when he shut down his practice at the Edenside Group Practice in Kelso (1967) which reveals an orchard setting as it and architecture continued (and height of his creativity while still in his mid- features a striking set of stucco towers gently rises, and you glimpse a modernist 50s. During that time, he created some of continues) to attract his attention. linked by walkways and quite unlike any structure that sits graciously in its midst. the best regarded Modernist residences in other Womersley buildings. As originally built All images © James Colledge except where the UK, moving on to design social housing, it sat in an open, tree-lined site suggesting There is a rectangular pond to the right, stated otherwise. hospital units, sports complexes, local a countryside setting. Today, alteration has with a restrained population of water The Rig, photographed in 2018. government offices and industrial facilities. deprived it of the integrity needed to gain a plants. Are there also fish? To the left, what must be the least likely and most He offered numerous local businesses protected category listing and development secluded suntrap in Scotland: even and individuals his expertise in updating in the intervening years has changed the site a hint of afternoon sun beckons the and renovating offices, retail premises and into a suburban enclave. However, it remains owner to this private enclave, shorts and To the right, bordered by a set of low wood- of a perfect retreat for the single occupant. private residences. The Scottish Borders, in use and is in good condition. espadrilles the only clothing required. finished cupboards, is the living room. Stepping where this Yorkshireman found his home, An opening to the left completes the Dingleton Boiler House in Melrose (1977) down a double step, facing an open hearth, is an open and welcoming community and Ahead, the building sits almost transparently is a dramatic example of what happens you find the perspective subtly changed. circuit around the central core, where boasts a significant proportion of his work. in its orchard, extensive glass both bathroom, toilet and utilities are housed. when industrial use meets modernist reflecting the scene and absorbing it, Beyond the fireplace, looking out to the Leaving the living area with the kitchen Designed in 1955 and first occupied sentiment: it would have been starkly as if you are looking through it to the orchard, the view from here is as transparent now on the right, you look through the front in 1958, High Sunderland was the home Brutalist had Womersley’s geometric and trees beyond. The front door sits open as that from the outside. This is a building that of Bernat Klein and his family until earlier sculptured detail not given a certain lyricism at the end of the covered walkway. inhabits its space as if mandated by nature. door and spot the guest accommodation this year. It remains largely ‘as built’, lovingly at the end of the sun terrace, the other to functional necessity. This is a building The furnishings in the sitting area are all cared for by Bernat until his death in 2014, On entering, a dining area and kitchen to side of, and support for, the carport. whose original purpose no longer exists, the left, well equipped but perhaps little fitted, perfectly proportioned. The natural and then occupied and looked after by his so it will survive only with repurposing. used, reveal a passageway leading to the finishes reflect a rich palette of tones daughter Shelley until it was sold earlier this It has found its way into the hands of a bedroom. At the entrance to it, looking up, matched to their environment. The wooden Built in 1957, The Rig at Gattonside year. It is the earliest of his category A listed knowledgeable group, Studio DuB, led by you spot an exercise bar anchored to the floors provide continuity through the spaces. (category B listed) was Peter Womersley's buildings to have been built. architect Gordon Duffy. Their plan is for a ceiling, bound in sisal cord, well used and Turning left, rising up again to its original sole Scottish residence and workplace Following a series of commissions for multiple-residence conversion which will worn to a smooth and comfortable patina. level, a study houses a working space and from the date of its completion until his private houses, Womersley’s attention was assure its ongoing survival, if successful. There are no doors or barriers to block eclectic record collection from Pergolesi to permanent departure in the late 1970s to taken by a string of striking and strikingly (Visit www.theboilerhouseproject.com the flow from space to space. Peggy Lee; an Eames chair finishes the sense live in Hong Kong. different non-residential projects. for details.) 24 THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND I AUTUMN 2018 AUTUMN 2018 I THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND 25 FEATURES | WOMERSLEY WOMERSLEY | FEATURES course – academic knowledge, expertise and published works. Our current focus, apart from the Klein Studio, is to create on the site a short biography of each of Womersley’s buildings. Coupled with a social media presence that includes Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, we were astonished to have generated over 320 supporters on the website within ten days of launching and have gained significant attention on the other platforms since. These supporters represent a mixture of the professionally interested, influential, enthusiastic and those newly introduced to Womersley’s work via our efforts. Shortly after the launch, a sympathetic and balanced article was published in the Scotland section of The Gala Fairydean Football Stadium (1964). Dingleton Boiler House in Melrose (1977). Times newspaper (May 4, 2018), under the The Bernat Klein Studio (1972), photographed above in 1979. © HES byline of Gabriella Bennett, recounting the challenges faced by the Studio. Each of Womersley’s projects reflected war decades. The project ended in the late Womersley’s work there in the form of its The same day that this article was the same strong relationship between site 1990s, the Studio fell into disuse and, in sports hall. Chris developed a deep interest published, the owner of the Studio met and function as with his own home. His use 2002, was placed on the Buildings at Risk in and knowledge of his work and is now with the Scottish Borders Council's Built of materials changed, and his practice moved Register. well-regarded in the Womersley world for and Natural Heritage Manager. Promising on from its residential roots into public and Sold again in 2002 into private hands, the his dedication to the subject. that work would recommence on June 1, industrial buildings, yet each one retains a current owner received planning permission Late last year, when the extent of the by the time of writing in mid-August, there unique sense of identity, inextricably linked to convert the building into two apartments, Studio’s decline seemed to be advancing have been confirmed reports of materials to a design process that was as complete in the upper one with a rooftop terrace. rapidly, Michael and I had a conversation delivery, tradesmen on site and the fencing its conception as it was in its realisation. Work began and progressed well over the where we agreed “enough is enough”. off of areas immediately adjacent to the The high proportion of listed buildings in next few years, only to run in to the dual Having no particular background in building. Hopeful signs? We will keep fingers England and Scotland speak to the regard problems of the 2008 downturn and a campaigning for the preservation of firmly crossed and document progress in with which his work is held.

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