Coalition secures Peter Womersley’s Bernat Klein Studio for the nation

The Bernat Klein Foundation (BKF), the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) announced last week our hope to save the Bernat Klein Studio from ruin and create a new venue to inspire creative arts in the Scottish Borders.

At auction today, the building was secured by the coalition for £279,000.

A financial contribution from the National Trust for Scotland gave the coalition the confidence to back a competitive bid for the building. Architecture fans and supporters also generously contributed to a crowdfunding campaign which raised over £33,000 within a week, along with further philanthropic pledges from private individuals and organisations including the Path Trust and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Forth & Borders group. The crowdfunding campaign will continue until 8 August to raise further support towards the restoration of the building.

Designed in 1972 by renowned modernist architect Peter Womersley and influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the Category A-listed studio is one of Scotland’s most important 20th-century buildings and was once the beating heart of the textile industry in the Borders. Textile designer Bernat Klein (1922–2014) gained international renown by designing collections here for many famous fashion houses including Chanel and Dior.

The studio is currently in a severely dilapidated state and has been on the Buildings at Risk Register since 2002. A condition survey and structural assessment instructed by Scottish Borders Council in 2023 revealed a building with significant and myriad issues from its prolonged vacancy, water damage, deterioration and acts of vandalism. The estimated cost of a full restoration undertaken by specialists is expected to exceed £2.5–£3 million.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, whose previous projects include Riddle’s Court on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, will oversee the delivery of a repair and restoration project working with the National Trust for Scotland and a range of conservation and architectural specialists. The first phase of works will comprise the urgent repairs needed to stabilise the building, including assessing the condition of the concrete cladding and making repairs to the flat roof. Designs for the full restoration to a studio will be developed over the next year. Updates on the progress of project will be shared on the SHBT website.

Once complete, it is intended that The Studio will return to its original use as a design studio, as well as providing a permanent base in the Scottish Borders for the Bernat Klein Foundation, whose creative-led projects include exhibitions, workshops and talks.

Philip Long OBE, Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland said: ‘The Trust, along with many others, for many years have been working behind the scenes to save this outstanding modern building, so important both for its architectural design and the rich heritage it represents as part of Scotland’s world-renowned creativity in textiles. Now through our partnership we can be confident this significant building, the story of its architect and its resident will survive to be shared with people now and in the future and help to inspire new creativity.’

The coalition is grateful for the support and advice received from across the sector for this campaign, including from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Preserving Womersley, Twentieth Century Society, William Grant Foundation, among others.