Sold! Bernat Klein's 'creative hub' goes for more than FIFTEEN TIMES guide price at auction
Last updated 30th Jul 2025
Bernat Klein's A-listed studio near Selkirk has sold for more than FIFTEEN times its guide price at auction this morning (Wednesday).
We can confirm a joint bid - led by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) - to save the Borders landmark for the nation has been successful.
It's hoped the building can now be transformed into a creative arts venue and cultural hub for the local community.
Nestled beside the A707, the two‑storey concrete and brick structure, which was designed in 1972 by renowned modernist architect Peter Womersley, is currently in a severely dilapidated state and has been on the Buildings at Risk Register since 2002.
A condition survey and structural assessment instructed by Scottish Borders Council in 2023 reveals a building with significant and myriad issues from its prolonged vacancy, water-damage, deterioration, and acts of vandalism.
It's estimated the full cost of restoration undertaken by specialists could be between £2.5 million and £3 million.
It was marketed by auctioneers Savills with a guide price of £18,000.
And a crowdfunder to support the coalition bid raised around £33,000 within a week.
But the studio - which is being described as one of Scotland’s most significant modernist buildings and a "creative hub" for a textile designer who gained international renown by designing collections here for many famous fashion houses, including Chanel and Dior - has gone on to sell for £279,000.
SHBT director, Dr Sam Gallacher told Greatest Hits Radio: “We have been overwhelmed with the support that we've got for the fundraising campaign.
"Clearly this building means a huge amount to a lot of people and it's been lovely actually to see in the comments from our crowdfunder people who maybe worked with Wormersley, worked with Klein, remember going to the studio - a lot of childhood memories and a lot of family memories - so clearly.
“When we think about architectural heritage in Scotland, we think about castles, and country houses; we’re probably not going to think about 20th century brutalism. But, in the Scottish Borders, we have this incredible building.
"It's a building that people might associate more if it was in California, or in an inner city. But, no, it's on a hillside between Galashiels and Selkirk.”
And he added: “We're really excited because this building deserves to be recognised. It already is recognised around the world and we want it to be recognised locally too; and by preserving it for the nation, which is the aim of our coalition, we feel that's the best way.”
Once complete, it's intended the building will provide a permanent base in the Scottish Borders for the Bernat Klein Foundation, whose creatively-led projects include exhibitions, workshops, and talks.
However, the partners behind the coalition bid - who include the National Trust for Scotland and National Lottery Heritage Fund - revealed the initial priority is to secure ownership of the property and prevent further deterioration.
Dr Gallacher said: “This is a building that's been on the Buildings at Risk Register for over 20 years, and so we know that it needs rapid work to stabilise it.
“When we look at restoring historic buildings, concrete buildings of this design is not a normal area of activity. It requires really specialist skills, and we're lucky that we've been able to work with people who are at the top of their fields in this specialism, to understand how do we fix it?
“Not just to repair a building which has significant issues from the climate, but also how do we upgrade it to be a building that can be used long term?”
And he added: “Our focus is very much on what is the best possible outcome for a building of this significance? Not only what's the best outcome to preserve its architectural heritage, but also what's the best outcome for the community as well?
"And the community, for this building in particular, is the whole of the country because it really is one of Scotland's best buildings of the last century.”
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