September 17 2019

Mecanoo Architects are supporting calls for The Stone of Destiny to be relocated to Perth as the centrepiece of a £23m museum project at Perth City Hall.

The Scottish Government has set up a commission inviting public responses on the preferred location for the historic block of sandstone, used for the inauguration of monarchs, which is currently on display at Edinburgh Castle which has plans of its own to develop a new display for the hallowed object.

Should the Perth campaign prove successful The Stone of Destiny would be housed within a ‘custom-designed secure case’ within a permanent free to visit gallery space from 2022, just two miles from the stone’s original resting place at Scone.

Set alongside prehistoric and Neolithic stone carvings and Pictish slabs to set the scene for the stone, whose own origins have been lost to time, the attraction would sit within a ‘custom-designed secure case’ animated with light and sound to recreate the 13th-century coronation of Alexander III.

Outlining their case Perth & Kinross Council wrote: “In Perth, the Stone of Destiny will be free of charge for everyone to visit, in a public building designed to be fully accessible for all visitors.

“The Stone of Destiny will return to Westminster Abbey for Coronations. The design of City Hall takes this into account.”

A final decision on the stone’s ultimate resting place lies in the hands of the Queen, acting on the advice of commissioners, with a deadline for public responses set for Thursday.

3 Comments

#1 Posted by Cadmonkey on 17 Sep 2019 at 13:12 PM

Should it not surely go back to Scone?
This is a prime example of an architectural project desperately looking for meaning....too late in the process....after an “architectural competition” had already been held and judged, and awarded. Rather typical of public sector process in Scotland. A shambles.

#2 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 17 Sep 2019 at 13:21 PM

Looks as if they are trying to find a justification to keep the old City Hall. In any other nation such an iconic part of its history would deserve a building of quality demonstrating the best of contemporary Scottish architecture.

The current building pays no respect to St Johns Kirk which both architecturally and historically plays such a seminal part in our story.

#3 Posted by RM Hendersons on 18 Sep 2019 at 08:13 AM

Should the Answer to the Question not be made by Mr. Ian Hamilton Q.C. aged 92. . . ??

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