North Ayrshire science centre: Remembering The Big Idea

The Big Idea was built on the former historic site of Alfred Nobel’s iconic dynamite factory. Nobel invented dynamite but is best known today for establishing the Nobel Prize – a set of renowned international awards given in recognition of academic, cultural or significant scientific advances.

The desolate science centre was once accessed via the Bridge of Scottish Invention, which featured an advanced rolling mechanism that captured the attention of all visitors to the site. The bridge had the ability to move in order to guide people across to the building. Over the years, it safely took hundreds of visitors over the River Irvine to the Ardeer Pensinsula. Today, it remains intact but eerily takes no visitors across to the centre.

Inside the building, tribute to some of Scotland’s greatest minds can be seen throughout various exhibitions. Some of which include biologist, Sir Alexander Fleming and engineer, John Logie Baird. The strong tribute to Scotland’s famous figures throughout the centre, meant that it was often referred to as ‘the inventor centre’.

The five focal points of The Big Idea remain untouched inside. These sections were named; power, control, materials, communication and mechanisms. Alongside impressive displays, the centre boasts several theatres, suitable for both film screenings and lectures. There is also a considerable sized classroom, big enough to seat 32 people. The Big Idea was once celebrated for its impressive number of interactive exhibits, which encouraged every visitor to discover their own imaginative solutions.

Whilst the building itself is now a time capsule to what was once a thriving science centre, the memory of the The Big Idea is still very much alive. There is a genuine time capsule, buried deep beneath the grounds under the reception desk. It was placed there in 1999 by pupils in a nearby school, Ardeer Primary and has remained there since – there is no clarification on when this time capsules contents will be revealed, if ever.

Unfortunately, due to drastically failing attendance numbers, The Big Idea closed its doors indefinitely in September 2003. Today, the centre door remains boarded, keeping its past firmly locked inside. However, every year, groups of urban explorers visit the site in an attempt to get a closer look at the abandoned science centre. The surrounding water is quiet as the world moves on around it, until perhaps one day it will face redevelopment.