The architect Peter Womersley and rural Modernism

Gordon Duffy and Rebecca Wober

Tuesday, 9th November 2021

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, 7.30 p.m.

Early in his career Peter Womersley, born in Nottinghamshire, settled in the Scottish Borders from where he operated a small architecture practice designing buildings as far afield as the Ayrshire coast, Bath and Hong Kong. His remaining legacy in the Borders demonstrates that his work was unashamedly modern and executed with a 1:1 attention to detail. In this talk architects Gordon Duffy and Rebecca Wober illuminate his working process and the potential for his work to host new life.

Klein Studio, Selkirk

Gordon Duffy established his own practice almost 30 years ago and is Architect and Principal of Studio DuB, working in the fields of Architecture, Infrastructure, Construction processes and Development. Within this time he has been nationally elected twice by the membership of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland to serve as a Trustee on RIAS Council.

Gordon is a founding Director of pioneering national timber panel manufacturer Ligna Alba and has set up www.theboilerhouseproject.com repurposing an existing building to harness the embodied energy therein. In his practice ethos and life outlook Gordon espouses the  ideals of his mentor and Great Uncle, Arthur Woodburn, a pacifist and conscientious objector who was jailed in WW1 and who eventually rose to the position of Secretary of State for Scotland in 1947, co-founding the NHS, namely: diplomacy, a social conscience and an ability not to prejudge people. Gordon distinguishes himself as an architect who listens to the client and forms a response based on craft, heritage and delight.

Rebecca Wober is an architect based in Edinburgh, the city where she studied and achieved RIBA Part 3 whilst working for four years for EMBT/RMJM on the Scottish Parliament Buildings. Growing up in London Rebecca graduated from an Art Foundation at Central St Martins school of Art and Design with a Distinction and specialism in Theatre Design and has worked in architecture practices in Paris and in London including Chemetov Huidobro, Haworth Tompkins, Jestico + Whiles. Rebecca has combined work across the fields of parenting, development, architectural history and art.

On the strength of her extensive research on the life and work of Peter Womersley Rebecca was invited by the Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to lecture on the subject and again to present her findings on his International work at a seminar at the Royal Scottish Academy. She has also been invited by Historic Environment Scotland to lecture about Womersley to students on the HES course on Building Conservation at the Engine Shed, Stirling.