The Gallery of Modern Art is a much loved building in the centre of Glasgow, sitting within the well proportioned Royal Exchange Square. The building dates back to Glasgow’s empirical rise and merchant wealth fuelled by tobacco, sugar and cotton importations and business links to its slave trade past. The Neo-classical Corinthian columns, cupola and clock tower form part of a redesign by architect David Hamilton circa 1830 to a merchant’s home that originally occupied the site.
It was lovely to get the opportunity to photograph this building during and after extensive conservation work on behalf of Glasgow Life to secure and preserve parts of the fabric, with a focus on high level stonework repairs. Photographing the building for John Gilbert Architects and the design team required careful planning as the project reached completion and the use of aerial photography helped to highlight the craftsmanship of high level stone work repairs.
