Specifiers Journal 2015-2016
Specifiers Journal 2015-2016
Specifiers Journal 2015-2016
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RESTORATION/CONSERVATION<br />
Birks Cinema<br />
Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross<br />
Birks Cinema Aberfeldy opened in<br />
1939, just before the start of WW2,<br />
and closed in the mid 1980’s. After<br />
a period as an amusement arcade<br />
it finally closed and then remained<br />
disused and neglected for almost a<br />
decade.<br />
Situated on a prominent corner of the<br />
town square the boarded up cinema<br />
along with a few empty shops gave<br />
the whole town a depressed and run<br />
down appearance.<br />
The building, which was on the<br />
Buildings at Risk Register, is not listed<br />
but was identified as significant in<br />
the Aberfeldy Conservation Area<br />
Appraisal introducing an unusual Art<br />
Deco element to the main civic space.<br />
However the public space in front of<br />
the cinema and the elevation facing<br />
Chapel Street were noted as being of<br />
poor visual quality.<br />
The Friends of the Birks Cinema<br />
was registered as a charity and by<br />
obtaining small grants from the<br />
Lottery and Perth & Kinross Council<br />
commissioned Robin Baker Architects<br />
to prepare a Feasibility Study before<br />
apply for Planning Consent.<br />
When a Town Centre Regeneration<br />
Fund was launched the Friends were<br />
able to attract a further grant that<br />
enabled them to acquire the building.<br />
The grant also provided funding<br />
for work to strip out the building,<br />
114 SPECIFICATION JOURNAL <strong>2015</strong>-<strong>2016</strong><br />
removing asbestos, lead paint as well<br />
as making the building watertight.<br />
After this major step forward an<br />
impressive fundraising and publicity<br />
campaign was launched with<br />
numerous volunteers who contributed<br />
many hours of their time and<br />
professional experience.<br />
Through their vision and hard work<br />
they managed to raise funding for<br />
the £1.25m construction work and the<br />
restored cinema opened again.<br />
The renovation works retained the<br />
Art Deco façade and the substantial<br />
rendered brick walls to the original<br />
450 seat cinema hall. The hall was<br />
reroofed and subdivided to provide<br />
a 100 seat auditorium with a double<br />
height café bar lit by new glazing in<br />
the Chapel Street elevation. Some<br />
windows in the Art Deco facade were<br />
slightly enlarged to open up views in<br />
and out to the square.<br />
The building design exceeded the<br />
current standards of energy efficiency.
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