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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Lisa Hodge

Iconic Scottish tourist attraction brought to virtual life in Minecraft

It was once Europe's biggest leisure centre and one of Scotland's most visited attractions before it was demolished in 2017.

But now the Magnum in Irvine has been brought back to virtual life on Minecraft, allowing parents to reminisce with their kids about where they spent their childhood.

The brains behind the build is archeologist Joss Durnan who is began researching the icon building for a book he is writing about Britain's New Towns, using Irvine as an example of them.

Joss said: "I've been researching the origins of the New Town and its origins in within Britain's New Town movement and the Magnum formed quite an integral part of Irvine New Town. It was the only New Town in Britain with a coastline.

"They wanted to make the most of Irvine's Harbourside and the seaside and plonking a great big leisure centre down at the shore to try and draw people down there.

"It put Irvine on the map in a lot of ways. I grew up in Irvine in the Nineties and when you tell people you are from Irvine they always mention the Magnum Centre.

"It's quite a powerful legacy.

"The building is quite reminiscent of the Commonwealth pool in Edinburgh which is a category A listed building.

"It was opened in 1975, the Queen opened it and demolition stated a little over 41 years later in 2017 and you'd never know it was there now, it's all completely grassed over.

"The fact that Minecraft is a game where everything is made out of blocks lends itself to buildings that are designed in that very regular geometric way."

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