Mecanoo continues to shape the field of architectural restoration, with projects that honour history while embracing modernity. After our acclaimed work on the New York Public Library, we undertook the revitalisation of Perth’s former City Hall, an Edwardian landmark dating from 1914. The building’s classical façade and rich past presented both challenge and opportunity. Our work began in 2017 with an exploration of Perth’s heritage and the hidden vennels that thread through the city. Inside the deteriorating former concert hall, we saw its faded grandeur and potential.
Central to our concept was introducing a Vennel, a new passage running through the building to connect the Main Hall and the Lesser Hall, marked by bronze doors crafted in Black Isle. The former Lesser Hall has been transformed into a communal space with a café and event venue, its lowered windows opening views towards St. John’s Kirk. At the heart of the museum, the Main Hall now houses Scotland’s treasures, including the Stone of Destiny, placed within a bespoke oak box, surrounded by a balcony narrating the nation’s history.
