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5 February 2025

Mid-Century Modern Architecture Celebrated in New Exhibition

Mid Century Modern: Putting Scotland on the Map’, an exhibition exploring the Mid-Century Modern architectural movement in Scotland, is set to open at North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre on Thursday 6 February.

A black and white photograph showing two people stood on a paved courtyard. There are patches of grass with bare trees on either side of them and a child with a tricycle in the foreground. Large square buildings with lots of windows surround the courtyard.

Cumbernauld, Abronhill 4. View of two- and four-storey blocks at South end of pedestrian bridge.

Drawing on Historic Environment Scotland’s archive alongside material from North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre’s collections, the exhibition delves into the international context that shaped Mid-Century Modern architecture in Scotland, alongside the ways in which Scottish architects were both themselves influenced the movement globally.

Claire Whitbread, Exhibitions Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, said:

“Spanning from the 1930’s to the 1970’s, the Mid-Century Modern architectural movement led to the creation of a number of iconic buildings and structures across Scotland, from Glasgow's Luma Tower to the Forth Road Bridge.

"We’re thrilled to be working with the North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre to bring this exhibition together, exploring how the need to rebuild following the Second World War formed the conditions that brought the movement to Scotland and the ways world expositions gave Scottish architects an international platform."

Clare Weir, Collections & Visual Arts Manager at North Lanarkshire Council, said:

"We're delighted to host this exhibition from Historic Environment Scotland. It's a great opportunity for the public to explore how the movement shaped the local, as well as the national landscape. It's a must see for anyone interested in Mid Century Modern architecture, photography and interior design, which has an enduring appeal to this day."

‘Mid Century Modern: Putting Scotland on the Map’ is on at the North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre from 12 to 4pm on selected dates from Thursday 6 February 2025 to Tuesday 6 May 2025. Entry to the exhibition is free and no booking is required.

About Historic Environment Scotland (HES) 

  • We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
  • Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
  • View our press pack and keep up to date by registering to receive our media releases. Already registered? You can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link, included in every email.

For further information, please contact:

Laura Ely
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07721 959 962
communications@hes.scot

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