Colourful tile could be used to clad historic Glencairn House in Dumbarton

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Architects teamed up with an award-winning children’s illustrator to create a colourful ceramic tile which could be used to clad Dumbarton’s oldest building.Councillors were updated on the £8.5million renovation plans for Glencairn House at a meeting last week.The historic building on High Street, which was built in 1623, is set to be turned into a state-of-the art library and museum housing some of the town’s treasures.Items on display are set to include a Roman Medallion found in the town, a logbook from the Cutty Sark and 15th and 16th century Royal Charters.The building, which it is hoped will open in 2024, will also offer panoramic views onto the River Leven and Levengrove Park and a cafe.West Dunbartonshire Council instructed Page Park architects to formulate design ideas, with architect Suzy Brown telling councillors how the town’s history and landscape had inspired much of their plans.Explaining the proposals, she told how Glencairn House would be set out as a public lending library and a local history museum, across three floors, with a children’s library located in a separate building at the site of a large ‘storytelling’ maple tree.She said the firm had worked with Glasgow-based children’s author Helen Kellock to design a unique turquoise glazed ceramic tile which would, if agreed, clad the rear of Glencairn House’s new extension and new-build children’s library.However, councillors were unsure and some questioned whether there would be “too much colour”.Suzy said: “We’ve carried out extensive briefing work.

A couple of key themes kept emerging and one was that the building should create opportunities for storytelling and have wow factor from the rear side.“Our original plans was about being inspired by the