A historic department store in Ayr, Scotland, that operated for 123 years before closing in 2019, will undergo substantial demolition as part of preparatory work to transform the site into a care village. The project includes a facade retention plan designed to preserve the building's most architecturally significant elements while clearing the way for future development.
Hourstons department store on Alloway Street will have its decorative frontage, including a prominent return gable, preserved through a specialized facade retention project led by LMA Architects. This preservation effort is part of a broader demolition plan that will also include the demolition of the vacant Arran Mall located alongside the historic store. The architects describe this approach as a stopgap measure intended to prevent further deterioration, fire hazards, and structural loss while detailed development plans are finalized.
LMA Architects explained their rationale for the facade retention approach in their project documentation. "It is evident that the main points of interest and value are contained in the street-facing facade, whose retention would preserve these elements," the firm stated. "This is not an uncommon approach to conservation, where buildings in disrepair tend to be unviable to develop or refurbish."
The architects further elaborated on their collaboration with local planning authorities regarding the project. "In discussions with the planners over this site, this concept was encouraged as a way of de-risking the building in the interim, while detailed proposals would be brought forward and covered under separate future applications for appropriate new-build elements behind what would be the retained facade," LMA wrote. The firm emphasized that the partial demolition and facade retention would not negatively impact the public's experience of the main facades or alter the existing streetscape.
The preservation work will involve installing robust steel supports as a temporary measure to shore up the Alloway Street facade while architects and developers work on more detailed design development for the site's future use. Only the front facade and return gables of the original Hourstons building will remain standing after the demolition work is completed.
The demolition plan is comprehensive, with the entirety of the Arran Mall and all rear elements of the Hourstons building scheduled for removal. This extensive clearing of the site is designed to provide a clean slate for the planned care village development while maintaining the historic character that the preserved facade will provide to the streetscape. The project represents a balance between preservation of architectural heritage and the practical needs of modern redevelopment in the area.
