Artist Recycles Cardboard to Rebuild Glasgow’s Lost Union Corner Landmark

A Glasgow artist has used recycled cardboard to painstakingly reconstruct a historic building that was reduced to ruins by a recent fire. Karen Bones dedicated ten weeks to creating a miniature replica of Union Corner, a B-listed Victorian structure that served as a local icon. The detailed model captures not only the building’s distinctive dome and roof signage but also the specific retail units that suffered damage in the blaze.

For Bones, the project was driven by a deep personal connection to the site. "After seeing the devastation on the TV, I felt compelled to try and recreate it because such a big part of my childhood was walking up and down Union Street and being fascinated by the Irn-Bru sign," she explained.

The 54-year-old creator transitioned from traditional drawing and painting to crafting cardboard models roughly four years ago. Her portfolio includes scale replicas of various locations, ranging from famous Glasgow music venues like the Barrowland Ballroom to coastal cafes, historic castles, and cottages. Operating her small enterprise, Bricks & Bones, from a renovated caravan in her Larbert garden, she constructs models of pubs and clubs where she once worked and accepts commissions from clients. However, she describes the Union Corner piece as uniquely significant.

The model holds emotional weight for Bones, reminding her of her father. "My mum had a hairdresser shop on Cambridge Street so on a Saturday my dad would take me into town and we would go shopping, walking along Union Street," she recalled. "It was a Saturday treat to go out with my dad and then we would pick my mum up from work afterwards. My dad passed away a long time ago so this model is sentimental because it reminds me of spending time with him as well."

To achieve accuracy, Bones relied on existing photographs and online images to take precise measurements. The resulting model stands approximately 25cm (10in) tall and spans 50cm (20in) wide. She characterized the undertaking as a "monster," noting it was the largest project she had attempted. Despite its size, she noted the model was surprisingly lightweight.

"The details were the biggest challenge," Bones said. "There are thousands of individually hand-cut bricks and roof tiles, and 74 windows, which all had to be spaced out properly." She emphasized her commitment to traditional craftsmanship over modern shortcuts. "I could have just painted them on or some people would have used a 3D printer but the way I do it makes it charming and different to what other people are doing."

Union Corner, which dates back to 1851 and predates Glasgow Central Station’s 1879 opening, was severely damaged by a fire that originated in a vape shop on March 8. Only the facade survived the incident, and demolition efforts are ongoing, with safety cordons still in place.

Bones faced a creative dilemma regarding the depiction of the shops. While the retail landscape on Union Street and Gordon Street has evolved since her youth, she felt obligated to include the businesses affected by the fire. "I had a dilemma before I started because finding a reference for the shops that I remember was really tricky and I don’t think I could have done it justice through memory," she said. "But then I also thought it would be disservice to change the shops that were lost. So I used the shop fronts from before the fire and brought back the Irn Bru and Bell's sign to include some of the old nostalgic aspects I remember."

Bones is now seeking a permanent home for the replica, hoping to sell it to a public institution. "I would love for it to end up on display in Central Station so people can look at it and it can be appreciated as a stunning building," she said.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 05:15:12 UTC