Designed in 1972 by renowned modernist architect Peter Womersley and influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the Category A-listed studio is one of Scotland’s most important 20th-century buildings and was once the beating heart of the textile industry in the Borders.
It was built as a creative hub for Bernat Klein, a key figure in Modernist design and one of the 20th century’s most celebrated textile designers.
Conceived as a workspace for design, weaving, exhibiting samples and business meetings, The Bernat Klein Studio celebrated the intersection of industrial craftsmanship and artistic vision.
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Coalition formed to save Modernist landmark from ruin
Modernist masterpiece built for Bernat Klein up for auction
The studio 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 revealed a building with significant and myriad issues due to its prolonged vacancy, water damage, deterioration and acts of vandalism.
With a priority of securing ownership of the property and prevent further deterioration, support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund gave the coalition the confidence to back a competitive bid for the building.
A crowdfunding appeal was also launched by SHBT to give the coalition ‘the best fighting chanc’e of purchasing the building at auction.
Now The National Trust for Scotland has confirmed that the coalition’s bid for the studio was successful at auction.
A post by the Trust on social media read: “The coalition was successful at today’s auction to purchase Peter Womersley’s Bernat Klein Studio, saving the modernist masterpiece for the nation.
The Bernat Klein Studio has been saved (Image: Phil Wilkinson) “The Bernat Klein Foundation, National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Historic Buildings Trust joined forces in a bid to restore the modernist building in the Scottish Borders, bringing it back into public and community use.
“We’re delighted to say that the building was secured by the coalition for £279,000.
“We’d like to thank all of those who generously contributed to a crowdfunding campaign in support of the effort; £33,000 was raised in seven days.
“We’re thrilled by the outcome of the auction, confident that this significant building, the story of its architect and of its resident will survive to be shared with people now and in the future.”
The plan is now for the studio to be brought back into public and community use.
Bernat Klein was one of the 20th century’s most celebrated textile designers (Image: Phil Wilkinson) Commenting on the news, Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire, said: “I’m delighted to share that the Bernat Klein Studio has been saved.
“Over the past year, I’ve been working with a coalition of leading Scottish heritage and design organisations to help secure its future.
“This iconic building will now be transformed into a creative arts venue and cultural hub for the local community.”
Nestled beside the A707 near Selkirk, the Bernat Klein Studio won a RIBA award in 1973 for its design and exemplary use and combination of the materials of concrete, brick, steel and glass. It was also awarded the Edinbugh Architectural Association Centenary Medal.
It sits near High Sunderland, Klein’s own home, which was also built by Peter Womersley – in 1958 – and is recognised as one of Scotland’s finest modernist homes.
Regarded as one of the 20th century’s leading forces in Modernist design, Klein’s genius eye for design transformed British textiles over four decades: clients from Chanel and Christian Dior to Marks and Spencer craved his colourful tweeds, and the fabrics and yarns he designed were worn by superstar models such as Jean Shrimpton and Princess Margaret.
At the peak of his popularity, his Borders mill employed 600 people, and his fingerprints were on everything from skeins of yarn sold in high street wool shops – to be knitted at home according to patterns designed by his designer wife, Margaret – to sewing patterns, upholstery fabrics and colourful rugs, to ready-to-wear fashion.
Fashion bible Vogue praised him for having “revolutionised traditional English fabrics to win them new recognition abroad”.
Following his death at the age of 91 in 2014, The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) said his influence went “well beyond Scotland”. RIAS secretary Neil Baxter also pointed out that “for a generation of Scottish women, owning a Bernat Klein creation was an aspiration”.
In late 2022 and early 2023, The National Museum of Scotland held a major exhibition devoted to the life and career of Klein to mark the centenary of his birth.