One of Scotland's most famous modern ruins, St Peter's Seminary in Cardross, will be resurrected in a major new show to mark the opening of a nationwide Festival of Architecture.
Hinterland will be the first public event at the former seminary since it was taken over for a major redevelopment by the acclaimed Glasgow arts company NVA.
Hinterland will be opened almost 50 years after the seminary, which was only in operation for 13 years from 1966, opened its own doors.
NVA will invite hundreds of visitors to the renowned building, a masterpiece designed by the late Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, to listen to specially commissioned music and see installations and light works.
Audiences will walk through the semi-ancient woodland of Kilmahew and hear a specially commissioned choral work by composer Rory Boyle, performed by St Salvator’s Chapel Choir from the University of St Andrews.
Angus Farquhar, director of NVA - which will formally re-open the site as an arts space and education facility in 2018 after a £10m revamp - hopes that 10,000 people will be able to re-discover the building from March 18 to March 27 next year.
The event follows an extensive programme of work to make the building safe for future use led by Reigart Contracts.
This work has revealed architectural details that have been concealed beneath debris for the last 25 years as well as the removal of large amounts of asbestos.
NVA's plan for the site, in partnership with Avanti Architects, ERZ Landscape Architects and NORD Architecture, is to keep much of the building as ruin, as well as converting its main chapel area to a 600-capacity performance space.
NVA are also planning to create indoor and outdoor teaching and performance spaces, a permanent exhibition, restored woodland paths and visitor facilities.
The Herald, which is media partner of festival, visited the site last week to learn more about NVA's plans.
Farquhar said: “Almost 50 years on from the day the seminary opened, we are witnessing the first positive steps towards a new purpose, one that accepts loss and ruination as part of the site’s history creating an evolving arts programme for local people, all of Scotland and visitors attracted to this iconic site from around the world.
“Hinterland will offer everyone a chance to visit the Kilmahew/St Peter’s at a key moment in its evolution."
The festival of architecture has been curated by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
Neil Baxter, chief executive of RIAS, said: “The architectural significance of the former St Peter's Seminary must be measured in European terms.
"It is now on the brink of becoming a quite new type of visitor and a national cultural attraction.
"The impressive spaces and dramatic allure of its contrasting concrete geometries will be a remarkable setting for public art,music and theatre.
"Those who take up this offer and are among the first visitors to St Peter's new incarnation will have something to tell the grandkids.
"2016 is going to be a very special celebration of Scotland’s fantastic architecture and we’re delighted to have ‘Hinterland’ as the first headline event of the Festival of Architecture”.
The festival will feature more than 400 events and exhibitions taking place around the country.
The festival is part of the Scottish Government's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.
Fiona Hyslop, culture secretary, said: "The programme that RIAS have curated looks set to offer a host of exciting opportunities for people in every corner of Scotland to access, enjoy and celebrate architecture encouraging us to think about the important role that our built environment plays in every aspect of our lives."
David Dunbar, chair of the festival, said: "This national celebration of great architecture will transform Scotland’s relationship with its built environment. It will improve our appreciation and understanding. It will also be great fun."
As part of the festival, the Ideal Hut Show will tour across Scotland from May to September.
Twenty standard model garden sheds will be transformed and customised by leading architects, artists, designers and celebrities from Scotland and abroad.
The sheds will be on display in venues including Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
Out of Their Heads: Building Portraits of Scottish Architects will be staged at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, from June 11.
Portraits, photographic portraits and portrait busts of architects will be displayed alongside representations of the buildings they masterminded.
The Pop-up World Cities Expo in Mound Square, Edinburgh from June 16 will see a group of international cities present pavilions, alongside Scottish cities.
Scotstyle, an exhibition to be shown across Scotland throughout 2016 features ten buildings from each decade of the 100 years from 1916-2015.
The exhibition of photographs of the top 100 buildings will tour Scotland throughout 2016.
The selection of the 100 buildings will be from public nomination, informed by an expert panel.
The list will be announced on 7 December.
At the National Museum, Build It - Adventures with Lego Bricks will see a display of Lego models in the Grand Gallery.
Grey Gardens, an exhibition about art, architecture and modernity will be staged at the Dundee Contemporary Arts rom February 27.
The 190th RSA annual exhibition, from April 16, will feature 24 interpretations of the idea of 'home' from "distinguished Scottish and international architects."
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