New military facilities plan for St Kilda
28 October 2016
Photos: St Kilda radar tracking base revamp plans
A thorough redevelopment and environmental upgrading of the military facilities on St Kilda is planned.
The Ministry of Defence, working with defence contractors QinetiQ and Skye-
Construction of the new MoD facility will take two years to complete. Winter storms will prevent access by sea and there is only one short season in the summer of each year when it is possible to guarantee regular access by boat.
Galliford Try International and Hugh Broughton Architects have now been appointed to develop the design using expertise gained through building similar facilities in environments with challenging climates, including work for the British Antarctic Survey.
Using a light environmental touch, the new facility will be constructed on stilted foundations to minimise ground impact.
The lower segments of the new buildings will be curtained with stone walls designed to blend into the St Kildan landscape as well as offering an architectural echo of the nearby abandoned cottages and cleits of Village Bay.
Wood panelling over the exterior walls will attain colours through weathering that will complement the surrounding scenery and roofs will be planted with native St Kildan grasses.
The National Trust for Scotland which manages the archipelago welcomed the plans.
Susan Bain, the organisation's property manager for St Kilda, said: “We have been very impressed by the extent to which the MoD and its partners have gone to make sure they come up with proposals that will enhance the existing site and are both sympathetic and sustainable in the vitally important context of St Kilda.
“Most traces of the buildings from the 1960s will be removed and their replacements will be entirely appropriate to the setting in terms of design profile and best environmental practice."
She added: “Every detail has been considered, down to ensuring that there is no chance of contaminant flora or fauna from the mainland being brought to St Kilda during the construction phase.
“The military has a long association with St Kilda going back to the First World War and we are very pleased to have worked in partnership with the MoD since 1957. This has been entirely beneficial to our conservation activities on St Kilda and we look forward to this relationship continuing well into the future.”
Photos: St Kilda radar tracking base revamp plans
Artist’s impression of the redeveloped facility
