06/09/2026
Can architecture elicit emotion? I think the answer must be yes, of course, be it love, anger or perhaps disgust. I have to confess however that I was not prepared for the huge rush of emotions that hit me yesterday when I had the great fortune of getting inside Peter Womersley’s 1971 building ‘The Studio’, just outside Selkirk.
First excitement as I waited for the minibus in the town, along with a handful of other lucky ticket holders, many of whom were clearly also a bit giddy at this chance - a school trip vibe! Then nerves, with health and safety warnings about razor wire and difficult underfoot conditions. Followed by joy at seeing the place up close and being welcomed in by the excellent of SHBT and then a fair bit of gloom at the current state of the building. Finally optimism, at the collaboration between SHBT, National Trust for Scotland and of course Bernat Klein Foundation, the foundation honouring the life and legacy of the great textile designer who commissioned Womersley to build this studio, as well as a home (High Sunderland) nearby. This Studio has a future, and it’s as bright as the September sun that flooded it with light.
Why should this building mean so much to me, with no personal connection to either of the men whose personalities are stamped all over it? I think it must be the simple fact that it is where it is. This building is rooted in The Borders I love, and is all the more special for it. Seemingly incongruous with our rolling hills and deeply held traditions, I think this building and what it represents actually tells us a lot about The Borders. These two men lost themselves here and were made welcome, with, in Kleins case, a generation of workers pushing themselves to the limit to create world class designs. And for Womersley, small firms, public sector and even a football club all straining budgets and no doubt challenging architectural norms to embrace his vision. We should be proud. I think they represent as much of the Borders story as abbeys, towers and Roman forts. For what it’s worth, I plan to help keep their stories alive and support this important conservation work. A privilege.
