A very expensive failure - 11 million or so at the time. The name 'Big Idea' on all the tourist signs was one 'HUGE' mistake as is was meaningless and people were just confused. The name 'Inventors Centre' would have made sense. Sadly the distance from the car park to the centre was too far for many people. We went quite a few times and it never changed one iota - no events, change of exhibits, special deals, etc. It still has found no new use.
14 million pounds it cost to build. Should’ve asked what the community wants needs here. For example a fantastic leisure centre would an ideal. Not on this site though. Should’ve went to save the magnum
My dad was a Dynamite Doc back in the 1960s when it was North Ayrshire's biggest employer and often referred to simply as "The Factory" - employing about 13,000 people - sad to see what it has become.
I think school trips (my own included) were the only thing that really kept the doors open, I'm amazed its lay unused for nearly 20 years, I remember some of the exhibitions were really good, it would be nice to see them rehoused in Glasgow science centre perhaps, along with "The flying machine " a mechanical sculpture that was specially commissioned for this place
It was always marketed as a "Innovation Centre", championing inventors. Problem was the visitor numbers required just to break even was huge and completely unrealistic. They simply had no chance. The Big Idea shouldn't have ever been hidden away on the wrong side of the River Irvine, but that alone wouldn't have helped. Sadly, North Ayrshire Council want to sell off the beach park for housing and a golf course. They've already started this by demolishing The Magnum, the jewel in North Ayrshire. It's council vandalism. The Magnum should have been renovated, but alas it's gone and The Portal is nothing by comparison.
In my opinion, they were bought off by property developers.. The beach park area is the property developers jewel. It should never have been moved, and that's the opinion of almost all the people I ask.. It should never have been shoe-horned into the town centre as irvine is just not irvine without the beach park the way it was.
I’ve always wondered what that was and now I know. I always see teenagers jumping off of that bridge and into the water during the summer when I would go to the beach. I would’ve loved to go to that science centre
I remember photographing this building and bridge for the people who had it when it first opened, it was always a disaster because who is going to visit it? schools where the main groups but the fact access was via a bridge that was most often closed it really didn't have a chance, great idea it was but a little community research should have been done to see if there was a market for it, even the Linthouse building owned by the Scottish maritime museum was also very empty of visitors, somebody foolishly believing you can make people interested in something they are not. As the top comment says "The Magnum" was perfect until back handers saw funding by the council stopped, the Magnum was always busy and known right across western Scotland.
they built it in an area no one could get to, that's why Nobel chose it, did no one in the planning department not think we need people to visit this place or it will close, council planners eh!
Isnae inaccessibility the reason for Big Idea's demise? Three years of operation coincident with the rise of the Web. Last I heard, plans were being made for a golf complex. Says something about priorities of our species, that we'd go out of our way for golf but not education. JMHO.
Humans are all just here trying to enjoy themselves. No one wants to go to some education centre after spending the entire week in school or university. When people are off work or school all they want to do is forget. The world we live in doesn't encourage invention, we work till we die in the corporate world. The location of the place doesn't help at all either, it would be slightly different if it was directly inside the town somewhere.
@jemimallah Then why is it closed with no visitors? It's alright if you have that rubbish in Glasgow so schools can visit but in a rural area like that. People want a bit of fun and entertainment pumped into the area, not a science centre.
A very expensive failure - 11 million or so at the time. The name 'Big Idea' on all the tourist signs was one 'HUGE' mistake as is was meaningless and people were just confused. The name 'Inventors Centre' would have made sense. Sadly the distance from the car park to the centre was too far for many people. We went quite a few times and it never changed one iota - no events, change of exhibits, special deals, etc. It still has found no new use.
Roger Griffith Was inside here almost 3 month ago Exploring and it looks the same
Damn I remember going there as a kid, so sad that its abandoned
14 million pounds it cost to build. Should’ve asked what the community wants needs here. For example a fantastic leisure centre would an ideal. Not on this site though. Should’ve went to save the magnum
No one used the magnum, that’s why it closed 🤷♂️
My dad was a Dynamite Doc back in the 1960s when it was North Ayrshire's biggest employer and often referred to simply as "The Factory" - employing about 13,000 people - sad to see what it has become.
I think school trips (my own included) were the only thing that really kept the doors open, I'm amazed its lay unused for nearly 20 years, I remember some of the exhibitions were really good, it would be nice to see them rehoused in Glasgow science centre perhaps, along with "The flying machine " a mechanical sculpture that was specially commissioned for this place
Went there when I was a kid on a school trip. So sad to see it unused for so many years.
It was always marketed as a "Innovation Centre", championing inventors.
Problem was the visitor numbers required just to break even was huge and completely unrealistic. They simply had no chance. The Big Idea shouldn't have ever been hidden away on the wrong side of the River Irvine, but that alone wouldn't have helped.
Sadly, North Ayrshire Council want to sell off the beach park for housing and a golf course. They've already started this by demolishing The Magnum, the jewel in North Ayrshire. It's council vandalism.
The Magnum should have been renovated, but alas it's gone and The Portal is nothing by comparison.
In my opinion, they were bought off by property developers..
The beach park area is the property developers jewel.
It should never have been moved, and that's the opinion of almost all the people I ask..
It should never have been shoe-horned into the town centre as irvine is just not irvine without the beach park the way it was.
awesome footage
I’ve always wondered what that was and now I know. I always see teenagers jumping off of that bridge and into the water during the summer when I would go to the beach. I would’ve loved to go to that science centre
I remember photographing this building and bridge for the people who had it when it first opened, it was always a disaster because who is going to visit it? schools where the main groups but the fact access was via a bridge that was most often closed it really didn't have a chance, great idea it was but a little community research should have been done to see if there was a market for it, even the Linthouse building owned by the Scottish maritime museum was also very empty of visitors, somebody foolishly believing you can make people interested in something they are not.
As the top comment says "The Magnum" was perfect until back handers saw funding by the council stopped, the Magnum was always busy and known right across western Scotland.
It looks like the Teletubbies hill
I THOUGHT SO TOO
Irvine beach park is a lovely place but there is nothing there other than a beach and some fields. It needs more infrastructure.
vvv vvv it has the dragon and a pond as some small activities
Skatepark
Emdey feel like goin oor there fur a wee exploration (risk it fur the biscuit lads)
Edit: ye can access the land from bogside golf club
I always though this was the telly tubbies house
Same
Inaccessible my arse. You seen all the footprints on the glass skylight?
they built it in an area no one could get to, that's why Nobel chose it, did no one in the planning department not think we need people to visit this place or it will close, council planners eh!
Isnae inaccessibility the reason for Big Idea's demise? Three years of operation coincident with the rise of the Web. Last I heard, plans were being made for a golf complex. Says something about priorities of our species, that we'd go out of our way for golf but not education. JMHO.
Humans are all just here trying to enjoy themselves. No one wants to go to some education centre after spending the entire week in school or university. When people are off work or school all they want to do is forget. The world we live in doesn't encourage invention, we work till we die in the corporate world. The location of the place doesn't help at all either, it would be slightly different if it was directly inside the town somewhere.
@jemimallah Then why is it closed with no visitors? It's alright if you have that rubbish in Glasgow so schools can visit but in a rural area like that. People want a bit of fun and entertainment pumped into the area, not a science centre.
Would make a crackin cinema
I looked into the top of it and it looks like Jurassic park
Tried to get in last week and got hunted haha
I got in in 2017 was in for 3 hours no security no fencing then just wide open
Am I the only one thinking it'd be a good apocalyptic stronghold lol
the BAD idea more like
Anyone know if you can get in it now ?
tried going in through old bomb factory, guy came and hunted us
It’s not abandoned my best friend went there a few months ago and we LIVE in irvine
It is abandoend it’s boarded up has high fencing and dog security
Been empty and disused since early 2000’s
Been empty since early 00s so someones telling fibs I also live here
I need the song from this video
What is the song?
i WANT TO KNOW
I have it 😂
@@urban_fox_cub_urbex what is it
@@urban_fox_cub_urbex what is it them
@@urban_fox_cub_urbexWHAT IS IT
And there's a loud ass alarm
Went here in 2017 was in there for 3 hours no fencing no boarding no security no alarms then
Still the same …11 million £££££££ in counsellor pockets all new cars 🚘 🚙🚙🚘🚙🚘🚙🚘🚙🚘🚘🚘🚘🚘🚙🚙🚙