The fact that Glasgow Science Centre even looks quite like it probably didn't help. Such a cool building, though. I hope that someone eventually thinks up a good use for it.
@@ghostsoc I'm pretty sure Nina and the Neurons had something to do with it... That reference probably means absolutely nothing to anyone who wasn't either a small British child in the early 2010's... or a parent of the above.
At the time I worked at an events company who were contracted by the Big Idea to handle PA for all the press conferences etc. So I knew about it from first plans, through to fruition. It was a fantastic idea and spent its first year or so fully booked out by regular School trips, for which it was really well set up. What killed it dead was the Glasgow Science Centre opening a few years later with a similar concept but about ten times the floor space and exhibit room. No real way to compete with that - and it was set up on a wholly different scale of funding. Real shame - it was a brief gem in the area and made superb use of an otherwise unusable area. When coming in to set up events there, there was so much security and rules about not straying off path, as it's a very closely monitored nature reserve - hence the design to make it disappear in the landscape and very very strict restrictions on infrastructure. Hence the parking off the peninsula and the bridge that could be opened up to avoid allowing scallys across it outside opening hours - all pretty clever. Real shame when it shut down.
Really interesting to hear your experience. It does seem like the basis for the place was sound, and it was run well... but just couldn't compete with the Glasgow Science Centre
I have visited similar centers, they are always built with grants from large organizations. It is fascinating to see buildings built for millions containing a stuffed penguin, old computers and a replica bone of a dinosaur.
I visited this - I can't remember when but there was a pretty small window to do so. I hadn't realised it had lasted such a short time. Interesting video.
Can't be done - as I understand, there were incredibly strict restrictions placed on it being a visitor attraction as it's on a Nature Reserve. You couldn't set foot outwith a certain area. Way too much money to redevelop, sadly. It's been mooted a few times, as far as I understand.
It was really successful initially, as the plan all along was to work with Schools (and this area of the West of Scotland is pretty far from the middle of nowhere - there's a good population and dozens of schools in the catchment) as a day trip location - it was set up brilliantly for it, with big workshop areas.
@@malcolmdonohoe9388 The middle of nowhere is relative, but even in big cities things like science museums are rarely profitable, and have to rely on government subsidies and donations. Seems like an oddly specific thing to build in such a location, surely something more useful to the people of Irvine would have been a better use of the money.
The fact that Glasgow Science Centre even looks quite like it probably didn't help. Such a cool building, though. I hope that someone eventually thinks up a good use for it.
The two are eerily similar at first glance. I wonder if one inspired the other...
@@ghostsoc I'm pretty sure Nina and the Neurons had something to do with it...
That reference probably means absolutely nothing to anyone who wasn't either a small British child in the early 2010's... or a parent of the above.
At the time I worked at an events company who were contracted by the Big Idea to handle PA for all the press conferences etc. So I knew about it from first plans, through to fruition. It was a fantastic idea and spent its first year or so fully booked out by regular School trips, for which it was really well set up. What killed it dead was the Glasgow Science Centre opening a few years later with a similar concept but about ten times the floor space and exhibit room. No real way to compete with that - and it was set up on a wholly different scale of funding. Real shame - it was a brief gem in the area and made superb use of an otherwise unusable area. When coming in to set up events there, there was so much security and rules about not straying off path, as it's a very closely monitored nature reserve - hence the design to make it disappear in the landscape and very very strict restrictions on infrastructure. Hence the parking off the peninsula and the bridge that could be opened up to avoid allowing scallys across it outside opening hours - all pretty clever. Real shame when it shut down.
Really interesting to hear your experience. It does seem like the basis for the place was sound, and it was run well... but just couldn't compete with the Glasgow Science Centre
I have visited similar centers, they are always built with grants from large organizations. It is fascinating to see buildings built for millions containing a stuffed penguin, old computers and a replica bone of a dinosaur.
Haha, brilliant. I know some places that definitely fit this description!
I visited this - I can't remember when but there was a pretty small window to do so. I hadn't realised it had lasted such a short time. Interesting video.
Must have been fascinating to experience!
It would make a great, remote, events venue, like weddings and parties. Also a refuge for when the zombie apocalypse happens lol.
Can't be done - as I understand, there were incredibly strict restrictions placed on it being a visitor attraction as it's on a Nature Reserve. You couldn't set foot outwith a certain area. Way too much money to redevelop, sadly. It's been mooted a few times, as far as I understand.
It'd be a cool venue for sure... but I think the practical concerns have meant that it just can't happen. Kind of a shame, really
thank you for another wonderful video :)
Thank you for watching!
What a bizarre idea, who would have ever thought a science museum in the middle of nowhere would be a success?
It was really successful initially, as the plan all along was to work with Schools (and this area of the West of Scotland is pretty far from the middle of nowhere - there's a good population and dozens of schools in the catchment) as a day trip location - it was set up brilliantly for it, with big workshop areas.
@@malcolmdonohoe9388 The middle of nowhere is relative, but even in big cities things like science museums are rarely profitable, and have to rely on government subsidies and donations.
Seems like an oddly specific thing to build in such a location, surely something more useful to the people of Irvine would have been a better use of the money.
I think if things had worked out differently it really could have become a destination in its own right. Alas... it wasn't to be
Funny but a few months ago I saw a RUclips video, I think it was Glovestrains, where she videoed that strange bridge with a gap missing in the middle.
It's really striking-looking when you first see it - especially as it looks like it's been that way for a while!
Sounds like Lesley Riddoch. The second syllable of Irvine is not local. The dynamite man Nobel - might be the man of the Peace Prize. In remorse.
He did indeed found the Nobel Prize. Ironic for a guy who invented a high explosive! 😂