Kilmardinny House Arts Centre

Kilmardinny House has long played an important role in the cultural life of Bearsden, providing a home for local arts, performance and community activity within its historic setting. MAST were commissioned by hub West Scotland on behalf of East Dunbartonshire Council to refurbish and extend the Category A Listed building, improving its facilities while helping secure its long-term viability as a community resource.

The project combined extensive repairs and upgrading of the existing house with a new garden pavilion, allowing the venue to accommodate a wider range of activities including performances, exhibitions, conferences and weddings. Improvements to accessibility, services, storage and catering facilities addressed many of the practical limitations of the existing building, while a fabric-first conservation approach prioritised the retention and repair of historic stonework, windows and internal finishes.

The new pavilion was conceived as a deliberately contemporary addition. Set back from the principal elevation and separated from the house by a glazed link, its simple linear form maintains a clear distinction between old and new while preserving the visual prominence of the historic building.

A restrained palette of high-quality materials gives the extension a quiet architectural character. Its solid northern elevation is treated as a garden wall, forming a backdrop to planting and artwork while reinforcing the location of the original entrance. Internally, the pavilion provides flexible space capable of adapting to different community and event uses.

Completed in 2017, the project strengthened Kilmardinny House as a centre for arts and community life while extending the useful life of an important local landmark. Its conservation and design approach was recognised with a High Commendation in the Heritage category at the 2018 SPACES Awards.