1999-2001/2
Richard Murphy Architects
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Stirling Tolbooth: photo by Stirling Council
Stirling Tolbooth represents a major and confident insertion into a historic
building that is all too rare in Scotland. The contrast of old and new,
subtle and strident is exciting and the complexity astounding. Stirling
Tolbooth dates from the seventeenth century onwards, and has functioned
variously as a town hall, a courthouse and jail. Stirling Council held
an invited competition in 1997 to refurbish the Tolbooth as a music-focused
Arts venue, encouraging performance and participation.
Stirling Tolbooth: photo by Stirling Council
The existing building forms a U-shape with court house occupying the central
section and vaults underneath. It sits between the two main streets on
the approach to the castle. As part of the design the adjacent Jail Wynd
was pedestrianised and a new entrance created using one of the original
vaults.
Stirling Tolbooth: photo by Stirling Council
The 'A' Listed existing Stirling Tolbooth building has been interfered
with as little as possible, so that the elevations to the public streets,
and the fine interiors retain their character and can be enjoyed as 'the
old Tolbooth'.
Stirling Tolbooth: photo by Alan Forbes
Special interiors have been reserved for special uses within the existing
building, so that the old Courtroom is reused as the pre-eminent performance
space, the robing room as a grand bar, and the old council chamber as
a high quality restaurant.
Stirling Tolbooth: photo by Alan Forbes
All the major interventions necessary to achieve the above have been located
in the only empty space available on this restricted site: the eastern
courtyard. Here is found the foyer and circulation system of the building.
Overhanging it is a lead cassette (known as the 'backpack') containing
the extension to the courtroom which creates the auditorium and above
it the air handling plant. Using this space as the foyer allows visual
and actual access to all the facilities and permits a single lift to reach
the many diverse existing levels.
Stirling Tolbooth: photo by Alan Forbes
Richard Murphy Architect's Stirling Tolbooth is located just down from
Stirling Castle, to the East, just a few minutes from Stirling centre.
All photos not by Adrian Welch provided by Richard Murphy Architects at
the time of the building completion
Stirling Tolbooth - Client: Stirling Council
Larger image available:
Stirling Tolbooth: photo © adrian welch
Completed Jan 2001; Tolbooth build cost, approx. £4.2m
Stirling Tolbooth - Full
set of Photos
Stirling Castle
Stirling Municipal
Buildings
Athenaeum Stirling
Thistle Centre Stirling
Station Square Stirling
Sustainable
Architecture
Homes
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Richard Murphy: some of the Edinburgh Buildings featured on this site:
Fruitmarket
Gallery
Oloroso
Dublin
Street
Richard Murphy: Scottish Buildings featured on this site:
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Stirling Tolbooth
Stirling Tolbooth
Architect: Richard Murphy Architects
Client: Stirling Council
Completed: Jan 2001
Project cost: £4.2m
In 1997 Stirling Council held an invited competition to renovate the Old
Tolbooth as a music focused arts venue, opening the building up to the
local community and the wider public for performance and participation.
Summary of judges’ comments:
The design approach is innovative and exuberant. The materials and detailing
are consistent throughout, well chosen and well designed. The rear elevation
to the court is splendid and the stair, the Stirling Tolbooth building’s
main feature, is clever and consistently detailed.
RIAS Architecture Awards PR - 27 Sep 2002
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Stirling Buildings - page:
adrian welch / isabelle lomholt