At the age of 51, an entrepreneur who meticulously renovated an estate in the Borders and turned it into a “home for makers and creators” passed away.
Beginning in 2012, online entrepreneur and investor Hugo Burge meticulously renovated Marchmont House for eight years.
He passed away abruptly at home on Wednesday, according to a statement released by Marchmont House.
It said, “Hugo motivated us all with his generosity, intelligence, curiosity, and hope for a better world. He was both a beloved son and a great friend. We will sincerely miss him.
After an excellent career in tourism, Mr. Burge, a London native, invested in the airline website Cheapflights in 2000. He was appointed chief executive of the company in 2011.
As a result, he and his father Oliver Burge took on the restoration of Marchmont House, for which they were recognized with the 2018 Historic Houses Sotheby’s Restoration Prize and the 2017 Georgian Group Architectural Award for Best Interior Restoration.
They placed a strong emphasis on using local artisans and filled the property, which was close to Duns, with a “eclectic” assortment of artwork and antiques.
Hugo Burge was committed to giving Marchmont House a more significant and cultural function. He routinely hosted events and concerts there and gave painters, printmakers, stone carvers, chairmakers, and silversmiths a place to work.
Through Marchmont Ventures, he continued his business endeavors, concentrating on growing consumer-facing and sustainable enterprises.
He founded the Marchmont Makers Foundation in 2019 to support local organizations and schools while also funding writer and artist residencies.