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Scottish National Portrait Gallery

If we are to create a low carbon environment we must improve the energy performance of our existing buildings. The challenge of upgrading building fabric becomes more acute when it forms part of our listed heritage. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is a remarkable Edinburgh building, held in great affection by many. There was therefore a general presumption against altering the historic fabric without good reason but underlying the delightful form of the building was its subdivision between two users, the National Galleries and National Museums. Various investments over the last decade had freed the building to be reconciled into one gallery necessitating an exciting and unifying change. However, the main renovation issue was the replacement of old and inadequate plant and the installation of proper, modern sustainable services appropriate to a national art gallery.

The design team has striven to meet the client demands for an affordable renovation and sustainable building, that not only sets new standards for museum and gallery design but one that also affects ways of working within such a building, allowing staff to undertake a planned process of change. It is anticipated that the building will help the National Galleries of Scotland and indeed galleries further afield to adopt new ways of working with their collections.

Photos by Andrew Lee
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