A group of Scottish heritage and design organisations has formally received the keys to one of the nation’s “most important 20th century buildings”, as they bid to save it from ruin and ensure its future as a national creative asset.
The Bernat Klein Studio, designed in 1972 by modernist architect Peter Womersley, was once the beating heart of the textile industry in the Scottish Borders.
Serbia-born Bernat Klein (1922 – 2014) gained international renown by designing collections there for famous fashion houses including Chanel and Dior.
The Category A Listed studio, which won awards for its design in concrete, brick, steel and glass, fell into a severely dilapidated state and was finally put up for auction at Savills in July.
The Bernat Klein Foundation (BKF), National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT), supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, overcame “fierce competition” to secure the property.
The purchase price of £284,240 – more than 15 times the £18,000 guide price – was raised thanks to a contribution from the National Trust for Scotland and a successful fundraising campaign that raised over £150,000 from crowdfunding and private pledges in just over a week.
The “Bernat Klein Studio Coalition” now plans to save the “celebrated modernist gem” and create a new venue to inspire creative arts in the Scottish Borders.
In a “landmark moment for Scottish cultural heritage”, the coalition will embark on an urgent repair and restoration project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
SHBT, whose previous projects include Riddle’s Court on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, will lead the project working with the National Trust for Scotland and a range of conservation and architectural specialists.
A grant of £245,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will allow SHBT to appoint a specialist conservation design team to investigate the condition of the structure, which has been on the Buildings at Risk Register since 2002.
Of particular concern is the condition of the building’s concrete cladding, an important element of Womersley’s design, which was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater in Pennsylvania.
Once complete, it is intended that The Studio will return to its original use as a design studio.
It will also be possible to visit, providing a permanent base in the Borders for the BKF, whose creatively-led projects include exhibitions, workshops, and talks.
The full restoration project, in parallel with the urgent works over the next year, is expected to cost £2.5 million to £3 million.
Professor Alison Harley, BKF’s Chair of Trustees, said: “These are exciting times for the Bernat Klein Foundation and our supporters.
“The coalition has worked long and hard to buy and protect the Klein Studio. Our new partnership will be focusing on the entwined legacies of Bernat Klein and Peter Womersley and this unique opportunity for the creative industries.
“In this next important stage of the project, the BKF will continue to support new creative output through its public programme inspired by Klein’s creative and cultural legacy.”
Philip Long, Chief Executive, National Trust for Scotland, said: “The Trust, alongside many others within the coalition, has been working behind the scenes for several years to save this outstanding building.
“The modernist creation is so important, both for its architectural design and the rich heritage it represents as part of Scotland’s world-renowned creativity in textiles, and we are proud to support its restoration to safeguard its future.
“Through our partnership, we can be confident that this significant building, its stories and place within Scotland’s heritage will be protected for generations to come.”
Dr Samuel Gallacher, Director, SHBT, said: “This will be a seminal project for Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, heralding new ways of working and a new approach to conserving modernist architecture.
“The scale of the repair and restoration required at Peter Womersley’s Bernat Klein Studio is extensive and will take many months, the skills of specialists and the support of the many people who have an interest in both Peter Womersley and Bernat Klein’s work.”
Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Bernat Klein’s work brought textiles from the Scottish Borders to the attention of Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga and more.
“The studio became a unique focal point for an industry that is inextricably woven into the heritage of this area of Scotland.
“The Bernat Klein Studio Coalition taking possession of this very special building delivers an opportunity to give it a new creative life.”
David Robertson, Chief Executive, Scottish Borders Council, said the coalition’s plans would “provide new creative and economic opportunities for our region”.
He added: “Given its importance, we have been encouraging a sustainable long-term solution for the building for some time, and are delighted to support this coalition of heritage and arts bodies who now offer an exciting future for the Studio.”
