A coalition of preservation organizations has successfully acquired a severely deteriorated architectural masterpiece designed by Peter Womersley, paying significantly above the asking price to save the historic building from further decay. The Bernat Klein Foundation (BKF), the National Trust for Scotland, and the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT), with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, purchased the Category A-listed studio block in the Scottish Borders for well over the auction asking price of just £18,000 on July 30th.

The three-story building holds significant cultural importance as the former workspace of renowned textile designer Bernat Klein (1922-2014), who created fabrics that were worn by fashion icons including Coco Chanel and Jean Shrimpton. The collective, operating under the banner of the Bernat Klein Studio Coalition, estimates that the complete restoration of the building could cost up to £3 million, given its severely dilapidated condition.

A comprehensive survey commissioned by Scottish Borders Council in 2023 revealed extensive problems resulting from the building's prolonged vacancy, including significant water damage, structural deterioration, and damage from acts of vandalism. The survey highlighted the myriad issues that have accumulated over years of neglect, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.

In the same year, architect Matt Loader of Loader Monteith Architects, who has collaborated with the Bernat Klein Foundation in recent years to develop potential future plans for the studio, created detailed designs to transform the deteriorating building into a public visitor attraction. The coalition's vision encompasses bringing the building back into active public and community use, restoring it to its original function as a design studio, establishing a permanent base in the Scottish Borders for the Bernat Klein Foundation, and providing an ongoing program of exhibitions, workshops, and educational talks.

The coalition's successful auction bid was significantly strengthened by a remarkable crowdfunding campaign that raised more than £33,000 within just one week of its launch. Additional support came through philanthropic pledges from anonymous private individuals and various organizations, including contributions from the Path Trust and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Forth & Borders group.

Following the successful auction, Alison Harley, chair of trustees at the Bernat Klein Foundation, expressed her optimism about the project's future. "After many years, the future for Klein's Studio looks very bright," Harley stated. "We would like to thank everyone who has supported our efforts so far and we look forward to sharing plans and progress over the months ahead."

The Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, whose previous notable projects include the restoration of Riddles Court with LDN Architects on Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile, will take the lead in overseeing the delivery of the comprehensive repair and restoration project. The trust will work closely with the National Trust for Scotland and collaborate with a range of specialized conservation and architectural experts throughout the restoration process.

The restoration plan is structured in phases, with the first stage focusing on urgent repairs to stabilize the building's structure and address critical issues with its flat roof. Over the next year, detailed designs for the complete restoration of the building to its original studio function will be developed. The coalition has indicated that they plan to appoint a lead architect for the project in the near future.

The preservation campaign has garnered widespread support and professional advice from across the heritage and architectural sector. Organizations that have provided assistance include the Architectural Heritage Fund, Preserving Womersley, The Twentieth Century Society, and the William Grant Foundation, demonstrating the broad recognition of the building's cultural and architectural significance.

Matt Loader of Loader Monteith Architects created concept drawings in 2023 that illustrate the building's potential as a visitor attraction, showing how the restored studio could serve both its historical purpose and contemporary community needs. The project represents a significant effort to preserve an important example of mid-20th century architecture while creating new opportunities for public engagement with design heritage.

The successful acquisition and planned restoration of the Bernat Klein Studio represents a collaborative model for heritage preservation, combining public funding, private philanthropy, crowdfunding, and professional expertise to save an architecturally significant building that might otherwise have been lost to continued deterioration.