A Perth-based land and property firm is playing a key role in upgrading some of Scotland’s most famous historic buildings.
A commission from the Landmark Trust will see specialists Bell Ingram lead the upgrading and maintenance of a portfolio of 19 renowned properties across Scotland, including The Macintosh Building in Comrie.
Dating from 1903/4, the well-known Charles Rennie Macintosh-designed building was commissioned by a local draper and ironmonger as a shop with a flat above and workrooms in the attics.
The project also coincides with the broadcast of Restoring Britain’s Landmarks, a new Channel 4 series offering behind-the-scenes access to the Landmark Trust and documenting two of its renovation projects and their history.
The six-part series follows the Landmark Trust’s restorations across the country and explores the stories behind many other extraordinary buildings in the organisation’s collection.
Susan Burness, director of Bell Ingram Design and RIAS-accredited conservation architect, said: “This new contract with The Landmark Trust is a significant win for all of us at Bell Ingram and we are delighted to be involved with the conservation of some of Scotland’s most famous landmarks.
“We are, at the moment, working on four projects for the Trust: Ascog House on the Isle of Bute and Auckinleck House in Ayrshire, as well as The Macintosh and Pineapple buildings (Dunmore).
“We are very excited to have these projects under way and believe our expertise and experience in property restoration is a vital aspect in bringing new life to these impressive, historic buildings.”
Alastair Dick-Cleland, conservation manager at the Landmark Trust, said: “Thanks to TV shows about sympathetic adaptation, people are beginning to see that there are serious risks in not using an architect.”
The Landmark Trust is a British building conservation charity founded in 1965 that rescues buildings of historic interest or architectural merit and makes them available for holiday rental. The trust cares for nearly 200 buildings across Britain and several in Italy and France.