Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre
Project Description
Kelvingrove Bandstand and Amphitheatre is a unique external performance venue sited within the designed landscape setting of Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, making use of the natural topography for the terraces of the amphitheatre. The venue opened in 1924 to designs by the City of Glasgow Corporation but by the mid 1990’s the venue had fallen into disuse. Glasgow Building Preservation Trust appointed Page\Park Architects to lead a design team to refurbish the Category B listed venue to ensure a sustainable future for the Bandstand. A strategic brief was developed by the venue’s operator Glasgow Life to deliver a functional outdoor venue capable of hosting a wide range of events, and the proposals were developed with key stakeholders including Glasgow City Council and interested community groups, such as the Friends of Kelvingrove Park – who had long campaigned for the restoration of the Bandstand. Whilst the approach adopted was to conserve and repair wherever possible, some alterations were required to both the bandstand building and the amphitheatre terraces, as in its original form the venue was not compliant with today’s legislation for access and safety and would be difficult to license in terms of public entertainment. The alterations to the building and amphitheatre take recognition of the original architectural and historical significance, and the design proposals were influenced by the Conservation Management Plan independently prepared by Simpson and Brown Architects. This supported the extension of the bandstand building to the rear to provide appropriate dressing room and support accommodation, and provide space for a platform lift to access the stage. Original drawings and historic photographs informed the proposals. Building fabric repairs were discussed and agreed with Historic Scotland, and fortunately the building was in a better condition than had been assumed, allowing greater salvage and reuse of materials. The lost Glasgow Coat of Arms crest and brattishing on the stage canopy were replicated by an architectural pattern maker. The original loudspeaker horns on the stage canopy were refurbished for re-use as lighting. The modest new extensions at the rear of the bandstand do not block the open views east across the park, identified as being an original key design feature in the Conservation Management Plan. The works undertaken to the amphitheatre sought to preserve the character and line of the curving terraces, with the provision of cast-concrete bench seating to make the venue fully seated. Other adaptations made to improve safety and access included: additional stepped gangways; a cross aisle and making the entrance fully accessible. The bench seating to the front rows have been restored, retaining the original cast iron supports with new hardwood timber slats. During the works the contractor employed local apprenticeships and as part of the Heritage Lottery funding there were a variety of educational and participatory events open to the public. The venue enjoyed a successful opening season over the summer of 2014, including being a ‘live zone’ for the Commonwealth Games, staging various local community events and promoter led music and comedy performances.