Tag: architecture

National Galleries of Scotland celebrates the evolution of photography and the impact of architecture in new exhibition

Making Space: Photographs of Architecture

Making Space: Photographs of Architecture

National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

7 October 2023 – 3 March 2024

Free Entry

Making Space | Photographs of Architecture | National Galleries of Scotland

Mark Havens

Take a visual journey through the history of architecture and explore the connection between people, places and photography in the National Galleries of Scotland’s new exhibition, Making Space: Photographs of Architecture. 

Opening yesterday at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, the exhibition focuses on one of the most enduring themes in the story of photography: architecture. With over 40 photographs from the 1840s to the present day to see, Making Space is the fourth instalment in a popular series of free exhibitions which explores the richness of Scotland’s national photography collection.

Generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and awarded funds by Postcode Culture Trust, Making Space not only considers the integral role of architecture in the history of photography, but also how buildings impact everyday life. Architecture has the power to tackle inequality, address social issues including homelessness, poverty and displacement, and even create a more sustainable future; key themes considered throughout the exhibition.

Visually engaging and physically static, buildings were the perfect subjects for early photography, with the evolving built landscape continuing to inspire photography enthusiasts today.

From the dawn of its invention to new techniques of today, Making Space spans the breadth of photographic history. The exhibition invites visitors to peer through the camera lens and uncover a diverse range of photographic styles, formats and processes.

From Hill & Adamson’s early experiments on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill to spectacular contemporary photographs which capture the breathtaking scale of modern buildings.

Standout modern works include Andreas Gursky’s San Francisco which goes on display at the Portrait for the first time since its acquisition in 1999. Deliberately disorientating, Gursky uses digital manipulation to challenge perception, with humans often appearing insignificant and dominated by their built environment.

The exhibition also features three key loans from Tate, including work by renowned photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Candida Höfer and Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Chris Leslie

Making Space introduces several acquisitions made by National Galleries of Scotland in recent years, including six works from Scottish photographer Chris Leslie’s Disappearing Glasgow series and a further six from Canadian born Sylvia Grace Borda’s project exploring modernist architecture in East Kilbride. 

Untitled (Rosemary and Ocean) and Untitled (Sweetbriar and Atlantic) by Philadelphia based photographer Mark Havens round off the new acquisitions, with his colourful works gifted to National Galleries Scotland in 2019.

The social history of Scotland plays a central role within Making Space, with some of the earliest work providing a window into Scotland’s past, and more recent work tackling the issues of today.

Historic highlights include David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson’s photographs from the early 1840’s, depicting the construction of Edinburgh’s Sir Walter Scott Monument. These iconic images not only record the birth of one of the Scottish capital’s most recognisable manmade features, but also provide the first known photographic documentation of a building site.

Thomas Annan

Heading west to Glasgow, Thomas Annan’s The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow series offers a 19th century view on what could also be considered a 21st century problem – the housing crisis.

In documenting the overpopulation in the east end of the city, Annan used photography to highlight inequality and push for change. This collection of photographs is now recognised as pivotal to documentary photography, offering visitors insight into an important moment in history.

Linking historic photographs to the present day are a wide variety of contemporary works from across Scotland. Picking up where Thomas Annan left off, albeit over a century later, Leslie’s Disappearing Glasgow series documents stories from the people on the frontline of the city’s extensive demolition and regeneration programme.

Following years of decline, Glasgow’s Red Road Flats were eventually demolished in 2013, with former residents watching from the sidelines. The building’s demise and subsequent social impact have been carefully recorded by Leslie.

At the other end of the spectrum, the work of Sylvia Grace Borda tackles the evolving nature of architecture and the ways in which it can be used to improve society. Designed in 1947 and widely considered one of the most complete Modernist towns in the UK, East Kilbride was constructed to relieve pressure from an overpopulated Glasgow.

A visual record of the town was created by Borda between 2005-2017, highlighting not only the modern architecture, but the green spaces, integrated public services and homes flooded with natural light, showing what architectural design can achieve when the needs of people are at its heart.

Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: “This continued series of free exhibitions at the Portrait Gallery is a fantastic way to explore the history of photography though the richness and diversity of the national collection.

“Making Space: Photographs of Architecture presents an opportunity to not only marvel in the evolution of photography, but also consider the impact our built environment has on society, health, and sustainability.

“We are proud to present several new acquisitions by contemporary photographers from Scotland and beyond, displayed for the first time alongside work by the trailblazers who inspired them.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Architecture impacts us in ways we don’t often realise – the built environment around us affects how we feel.

“Our players have raised over £5 million in funding for the National Galleries of Scotland. I’m delighted that this money means exhibitions like Making Space are free for everyone to enjoy and learn more about architecture and how it impacts people’s lives across Scotland.”

Making Space: Photographs of Architecture opened at the Portrait yesterday on Saturday 7 October.

Final call for entries to complex-needs site design challenge

Edinburgh students encouraged to enter innovative challenge fronted by TV architect

Architect and TV presenter George Clarke has issued the final call for entries to a creative challenge which will shape the design of a £25m complex-needs facility.

Young people in Edinburgh are being invited to take part in a design brief to imagine how a new inclusive community and sustainable building project in Perth could look like.

With the deadline for entries fast approaching, designs should be submitted by 26th May, and consider how people can live sustainably and affordably while meeting individual needs and preserving the environment for future generations.

The challenge will help inform Capability Scotland’s new inclusive Bertha Park facility in Perth, which is in partnership with the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education [MOBIE] – a charity founded by George Clarke to inspire young people to get involved in housing and community design for the future.

George said: “The imagination of young people is something we would really like to harness in this project, and in future housing and community designs.

“We want to hear from a wide range of young people, from primary pupils right through to postgraduate students. Entries are open to schools, colleges, and universities across Scotland, as well as those who wish to work independently.

“It is hoped the project will also inspire and uncover the next generation of architectural talent while sharing innovative solutions on how the new site can champion inclusive living and learning.”

The challenge is looking for young people to come up with ways to define what makes a community. For some that might be about being good neighbours, enjoying shared spaces, or creating new and positive opportunities.

The new site will consist of 60 self-contained studio flats for individuals with complex needs. A new primary school, followed by high quality, energy-efficient housing. These will be built on the site adjacent to the existing Bertha Park High School.

Sponsorship from Springfield Properties and Sigma Capital Group has been received for the challenge prizes which include a £250 technology voucher for the winning entry from each category as well as a trophy specially design and produced by Capability Scotland service users at its studio day centre in Perth.

Brian Logan, CEO of Capability Scotland, the organisation behind the new facility named ‘Our Inclusive Community Project’, said: “We have been supporting individuals living with complex needs in the area for decades and the new site will enhance and expand this current support.

“Young people are vital to the future of housing and we want to maximise their involvement in helping shape this major project – especially as we’re committed to making it an exemplar service from the offset.

“With unfettered imaginations, we’re looking forward to hearing the amazing ideas from young Scots.”

Bertha Park High School and two Perth primary schools, as well as Capability Scotland’s two specialist schools and college – Corseford College and Corseford School in Renfrewshire and Stanmore House School in Lanark – have already signed up to participate in the creative challenge.

The challenge is being partnered by Perth and Kinross Council and Scottish Water, alongside Capability Scotland and MOBIE.

MOBIE was founded in 2017 by architect and television presenter George Clarke to inspire young people to revolutionise the way we think about the places in which we live. He aims to give younger generations a way to define how they want to live now and in the future.

Capability Scotland is a charity delivering care, support, and education for disabled children and adults across Scotland. It has a range of facilities and services across the country which helps its customers achieve the best outcomes in their lives, no matter their needs.

MOBIE has hosted webinars to help inspire students create concepts boards and give tips on how to finalise presentation for submissions to competitions which can be found here:

To express interest in participating in the design challenge, visit: https://oicp.capability.scot/contact/

For help, support and guidance with entries, please contact the MOBIE team: challenges@mobie.org.uk

For more information on Capability Scotland’s MOBIE project, visit: https://youtu.be/NRiIr2ci6fc

For more information on Capability Scotland, visit: Our Inclusive Community Project – Homepage – OICP (capability.scot)

South-west England ‘the happiest region in the UK’

Words most associated with EDINBURGH are history, architecture & theatre/arts

New research has revealed that Edinburgh is labelled as historical by people across the UK. The survey by Legal & General asked respondents to select the words they most associate with various UK cities, including their own. 

The survey found that the top words associated with Edinburgh are historical (53%), architecture (42%), and theatre/arts (40%).

Other key findings include:

  • Respondents living in Edinburgh chose historical (71%), theatre/arts (65%), and architecture (62%) as the top words associated with their city
  • The words least associated with Edinburgh are industrial (10%), rugby (11%), and football (14%)
  • Edinburgh was the second most prosperous (23%) and innovative (16%) city, behind London only
  • Edinburgh is the UK city most associated with architecture, chosen by 42% of respondents

Legal & General also investigated the various satisfaction levels of people living in the UK in their Rebuilding Britain Index report.

The study finds that 69% of Brits are satisfied with their local area – this was 68% among those in Scotland. However, there are many factors such as healthcare (62%) and public green spaces (50%) that significantly affect levels of contentment. 

  • People in the south-west of England have the highest levels of satisfaction with their local area (76% of survey respondents).
  • In contrast, just 62% of those polled in the north-east say they are satisfied with their area – the lowest of any region.
  • “Expensive” is the word Brits most associate with London (68% of respondents).
  • “Historical” is how Brits are most likely to describe Edinburgh (53%), while Sheffield is viewed as “industrial” (43%), and the word most associated with Newcastle is “football” (44%).
  • Overall, 69% of the UK are satisfied with the place where they live.
  • Access to high quality health services (GP, dentists, pharmacy) is the factor that most determines satisfaction with an area – 62% selected this option.

Satisfaction runs deep 

There is no shortage of local pride in Britain’s regions, but the sunny south-west, including Bristol, Bath and the towns and villages of Somerset and Gloucestershire, has the highest levels of satisfaction (76%) among locals when asked to rate the place where they live.

New research from Legal & General as part of their Rebuilding Building Britain Index explores satisfaction levels across the UK.

As part of the research, 20,000 people were surveyed to find out how satisfied they are with their lives – and how different factors – from work opportunities to transport – affect their levels of contentment. 

The study found that Brits are largely happy with their neighbourhood – 69% say they’re satisfied with their local area.
Diagram Description automatically generated

The key to happiness 

But not everyone would describe their local patch as a happy place to live. In the north-east of England, just 62% of respondents said they’re satisfied with their area – the lowest of any region. And when asked which factors have the biggest impact on satisfaction levels, the survey revealed that healthcare, public green spaces and a reliable mobile signal are crucial to how people view their surroundings.

Other factors include congestion and quality of local roads, as well as the availability of well-paid employment options. 
Application Description automatically generated

The words on the street

Our health, happiness and sense of place is affected by the way we perceive the world around us. So how do Brits view different cities across the UK? A new survey commissioned by Legal and General asked respondents which words they would use to describe different urban centres. Here are the top answers:

LONDONExpensive (68%)
SHEFFIELDIndustrial (43%)
BIRMINGHAMIndustrial (36%)
GLASGOWHistorical (35%)
BRISTOLHistorical (28%)
NEWCASTLEFootball (44%)
CARDIFFRugby (35%)
LEEDSFootball (33%)
EDINBURGHHistorical (53%)
BRIGHTONLively (42%)

Newcastle had the most UK respondents label the city as ‘friendly’ with 35% selected this as an option to describe the area. Sheffield (25%), Birmingham (24%), Cardiff (26%) and Brighton (30%) were the only other UK cities where ‘friendly’ was selected as one of the top 3 associated words.

Respondents offered other words and phrases as part of the survey which they believe resonate with UK cities, such as the ‘Commonwealth Games’ for Birmingham, ‘University’ for Bristol and ‘LGBTQ’ for Brighton. 

The full breakdown of associated words can be found here: https://group.legalandgeneral.com/en/inclusive-capitalism/future-proofing-society/our-happy-places 

John Godfrey, Director of Levelling Up, Legal and General comments: “Our Rebuilding Britain Index focuses on how economic infrastructure and the built environment can support efforts to level the playing field of opportunity.

“The end-game is in people leading happier and more fulfilling lives – but we’ve found that life satisfaction can be significantly impacted by our surroundings. Our research into the common associations people in the UK have with our capitals gives us interesting insight into this specifically.”

UK landmarks reimagined in glass

  • Experts reimagine five British landmarks if they were made from glass
  • Research reveals why glass should be used in architecture in 2022 

With structural glass quickly becoming one of the most reliable building materials due to its many applications and low costs, five of the UK’s most iconic landmarks have been given a makeover and reimagined as glass buildings.

Following a 23% increase in interest for the search term ‘glass architecture’¹ and a further 22% jump in searches for ‘sustainability’², leading UK glass manufacturer, Specialist Glass Products, has worked with a final year graphic design student3 to envisage five famous UK landmarks if they were made from glass. 

From the House of Parliament to Leeds Corn Exchange, the reincarnations share insight into why the eco-friendly and 100% recyclable material would be suitable for each landmark. 

The Houses of Parliament

With the UK Terrorism threat level labelled as substantial, The Houses of Parliament, lying on the north bank of the River Thames, could be a prime target for a terrorist attack. 

Andrew Taylor, managing director at Specialist Glass Products, explains, “The use of toughened and bomb-proof glass in the design of The House of Parliament would withstand bomb blast performance requirements and provide greater security from severe weather and durability in elevated temperatures; an essential feature to protect against the UK’s widespread changes in climate.

“In addition, with many confidential conversations taking place, acoustic and white diffuser glass would also need to be heavily integrated into the architectural design to minimise sound and ensure privacy within meeting rooms, and more importantly, the high court.”

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Designed by Sir William Bruce 1671, also known as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official home of the British monarch in Scotland.

Every year, Queen Elizabeth II spends one week in residence here at the beginning of each summer.

Andrew reveals, “With July temperatures averaging a daily high of 21 degrees Celsius in the UK, room temperatures can get stuffy and uncomfortable, especially if in direct sunlight.

“By implementing energy-efficient coated glass into the design, you can help keep interiors cool in the hotter months without opening windows or installing air conditioning. 

“Using energy-efficient glass would also mean more natural light and less artificial light, which is better for your health, eyesight and can even reduce stress.”

Leeds Corn Exchange

Built between 1861 and 1863 by Cuthbert Brodrick, Leeds Corn Exchange is now a boutique shopping centre for independent retailers.

Retail business owners must attract foot traffic, especially those without digital platforms, as more retail companies sell everything online day by day.

Andrew advises: “Store frontage is integral to keeping retail businesses competitive and current, showcasing what’s inside and, more importantly, who is inside.

“Leeds Corn Exchange would benefit from the use of ‘Clearsight’ glass. This type of glass would ensure a clear view and no reflection thanks to its anti-reflective coating, minimising glare and significantly reducing any light reflection to less than 1%.

“Compared to the 8% on conventional glass, this is a massive difference; any passer-by would see any display items thanks to a crystal clear window.”

Cathedral of Dublin

Christ Church Cathedral was founded in 1030 by Sitric, King of the Dublin Norsemen!

Like many other church buildings, as the building is so old, the cathedral can often be very cold due to heat loss through gaps in the surfaces of the roof, exterior walls, windows, and floor.

Andrew explains, “Renowned for its beauty and architecture if the Cathedral of Dublin installed integrate energy-efficient glass walls, flooring and roofing this would improve indoor comfort, save money on energy bills and reduce mould, leaks and condensation.

“As well as keeping interiors cool, energy-efficient glass units can allow heat and light from the sun to pass through the glass, as well as reflect and contain heat from radiators or fires. The use of toughened glass will also provide visitors with a higher sense of security.”

Conwy Castle

Built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales, between 1283 and 1289, Conwy Castle is perfectly placed in a picturesque environment.

Andrew reveals: “We can curve glass up to 3200mm x 5000mm, which could easily be used to recreate the great towers of Conwy Castle. Not only could the walls be made of glass, but the internal spiral staircases as well.

“Unlike conventional wooden staircases, the sturdy, toughened glass used to create a glass staircase provides extended durability and a beautiful contemporary look.

“If the castle were built from glass, there would be fantastic views of Snowdonia, the harbour and the narrow streets of Conwy from every corner!”

Andrew adds: “Whilst we have only imagined what famous UK landmarks could potentially look like, glass can be used in the construction of almost every home, office and public building worldwide. 

“Due to its functional and decorative qualities, the advantages of using glass do not end at the aesthetics. Allowing natural light to spread through, the material saves money and energy resources, keeping homes and workplaces warm in the winter yet cool in the summer. Therefore, saving energy on heating and air-conditioning. 

“Glass is also 100% recyclable, so if it is ever removed or replaced, it can be broken down and transformed into a new product. If you value energy efficiency, sustainability, and security, glass is the material for you.”

Find out more about the uses of glass in architecture and interior design:

https://www.specialistglass.co.uk/famous-uk-landmarks-re-imagined-in-glass/ 

Faster, higher, stronger: some Olympic-themed fun to keep your children on track with learning

After a year that’s taken its toll on parents’ and children’s physical and mental health, we’re all longing for a bit of rest and relaxation. 

But the school holidays can leave children’s learning brains a little too relaxed. So with the Tokyo Olympics in full flow, keep the kids’ brains sharp with these Games-themed activities from former primary school teacher Abby Milnes of education champs PlanBee:

Learn about…

… time zones

There is an eight-hour time difference between the Games and the UK. This is a great opportunity to teach your children about time differences between countries and why they exist. Challenge your children to work out what time they will need to turn on the TV if they want to watch an event live (hypothetically of course; some of the events may be broadcast in the early hours of the morning in the UK!).

Download this FREE Time Zones Map to help teach your children about Time Zones.

… measuring time

Many of the Olympic events are measured and scored against how long it takes to complete the event. Events under a minute such as the 100m sprint, 200m kayak, team sprints in cycling etc will provide suitable contexts for younger children to think about when measuring time. Older children may like to take on slightly longer events.

This PlanBee lesson may help teach your younger child about measuring time.

Challenge your child to see how many things they can do within the same time as it took an athlete to complete their event. For example, the Olympic record for running 100m was 9.63 seconds set by Usain Bolt at the 2012 Olympics. How many blocks can your child stack in this time? How many ticks can they do on a sheet of paper? After showing children how to read the amount of time on a stopwatch, get them to time each other and take it in turns to see who can beat the record in your own events.

… measuring distance

Other Olympic events such as long jump, javelin, shot put and discus are scored and measured using distance.

Using a metre ruler or measuring tape, challenge your children to take part in a long jump event. They can take a run-up, or go from a standing jump. Mark where the back of their foot landed and help your child measure how far they jumped!

… averages

Some events such as gymnastics are scored by a judges panel. Each judge gives the performance a score which is then averaged out to give a final score. Challenge your child to take individual judges scores and find the average score by adding them up and dividing the total by the number of individual scores.

… variables

“I wonder… do you run faster on grass or concrete?” Challenge your children to think about conducting simple investigations with “I wonder…?” questions like the one above. Younger children may need help with timing but they should be able to make verbal conclusions with you such as “I ran faster on the concrete”.

Older children (7+) should be encouraged to think scientifically. Is it fair if you wear sandals to run on the grass, but running shoes on the concrete? No, they should be the same. What about the distance you run?

Other things they could test:

●        Do I run faster wearing trainers, or when I’m barefoot?

●        Will I jump further with a run-up?

●        Will I jump further with a long run-up or a short run-up?

●        Does someone with longer legs jump further?

… pentathlons

What’s the difference between a triathlon, a pentathlon and a decathlon? The number of events! (This is also a perfect opportunity to look at the prefixes tri- pent- and dec- to mean three, five and ten e.g. tri-angle, tri-cycle, pent-agon etc.)

Challenge your children to come up with their own events for a family tri, pent or decathlon! They don’t have to be Olympic events, just a number of events that an athlete will be timed to complete. They don’t even have to be sport related: Who will be the fastest person to put on their socks? Who will be the overall winner?

… drawing figures

Do you have a budding artist in the ranks? Why not challenge them to draw their favourite athlete from the Olympics. Up the challenge by asking them to draw the figure in motion as they complete their event.

Use these FREE Paper Mannequin Templates to help support your artist in their challenge.

… architecture

Having held the Games before in 1964, Tokyo already had venues to host different Olympic events. The newly built National Stadium was finished in November 2019. Challenge your child to investigate its design, including the different ways it has been designed to be eco-friendly.

Work together to create your own model of an Olympic stadium, making sure there’s enough room for a track and spectators.

… map skills

Some of the cycling events in the Olympic Games require a set route to be planned out over a certain area. Print out a map of your local area and identify where you are and any areas they are not allowed to go to. Together, plan out a cycling route for your own Olympic cycling event. You could repeat the route several times to try and beat your personal best!

Beware: If you are riding on roads, make sure your child can ride confidently on them and is aware of safety rules.

… clothing design

Take a look at the designs for the athletes’ kits. How is the country represented in the design? What functionality does there need to be? This could link nicely with investigating the different countries’ flags.

Challenge your children to design a uniform for the country of their choice using this FREE template: https://planbee.com/products/design-a-sports-uniform

  • PlanBee would love to see your OIympic achievements: give PlanBee a shout on social media or share your children’s work with them at info@planbee.com!
  • Want more in-depth learning about the Olympics? Check out  Olympics Topic with lessons in Art, History, Geography and more!

Granton Waterfront among Council projects nominated for design awards

The city’s plan to regenerate Granton Waterfront has been shortlisted for the Scottish Design Awards 2020.

Selected as a finalist for the best Architecture Masterplan award, the Council’s development plan with Collective Architects sets out to boost affordable housing, transform streets to promote active travel and respond to the climate emergency in Granton. The award nomination recognises the project’s ‘fresh approach to creating a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable coastal quarter’ in Edinburgh.

Three further regeneration projects by the Council and city partners have also been shortlisted for the Scottish Design Awards 2020.

A housing development in Greendykes featuring modern, energy efficient Council homes has been nominated for the best new affordable housing award, while the restoration of the Edinburgh Printmakers and landscaping for the Calton Hill City Observatory renewal – both part funded by the Council – are also up for awards.

The winners are expected to be announced by the Scottish Design Awards at a virtual ceremony on 10 September.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Our City is growing and adapting and the new homes and communities being built are meeting the demands of our rising population and meeting our environmental responsibilities.

“We have one of the largest house-building programmes of any local authority and we’re making good progress towards our target of building new affordable and social homes. These homes are not only low carbon but are prioritising the wellbeing of current and future residents by ensuring sustainable communities and delivering high quality design.

“The £1.3bn transformational plans we have for Granton and our sustainable new homes in Greendykes are perfect examples of how we’re working to achieve this.

“Granton is one of the country’s leading sustainable developments and offers us the opportunity to work with the local community to create a new and eco-friendly waterfront neighbourhood, and it’s fantastic to see these projects nominated for national architecture awards.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: Our regeneration of Granton will deliver thousands of fantastic and much-needed new homes, creating countless new jobs and apprenticeships in the process.

“I’m looking forward to seeing us transform the area into the destination waterfront it has always deserved to be. We’ve also made a commitment to become a net-zero carbon city by 2030 and projects like this will help us deliver on that goal.

“We face big decisions about how we continue to regenerate parts of our City going forward, and recognition like this from the Scottish Design Awards – for how the Council is leading the way in sustainable, desirable new home design and supporting the restoration of incredible historic spaces – is very welcome.

“Now that construction can get back underway, we’re also seeing a number of other high profile sites take shape which will further reinvigorate derelict and underused parts of Edinburgh. We’re committed to building on this and our Choices for City Plan 2030 sets out a number of bold options for how our Capital can continue to flourish if we make certain planning, design and redevelopment decisions.”

Nominated for best Masterplan Design: Granton

The Granton Waterfront Development Framework offers a new approach to creating a vibrant, healthy and sustainable coastal quarter in Edinburgh.

Led by Collective Architects, the framework sets out an ambitious place-based, inclusive approach to regeneration which positively responds to the climate emergency.

It offers Edinburgh and the wider region the opportunity to make a step-change in how it develops in a sustainable, resilient and responsible way. Approximately 3,000 new homes of mixed size, typology and tenure feature in the plans alongside pedestrian-centred streets which promote active travel.

Nominated for best Affordable Housing Design: Greendykes

Anderson Bell Christie was appointed to deliver 75 new energy efficient homes for social and mid-market rent in Greendykes.

The result is a ‘Lifetime Neighbourhood’, appropriate for all generations and accessibilities with a community growing space, a communal heating system and building design with natural light, mental wellbeing and dementia friendly elements in mind. The site sits next to a new play park, providing excellent outdoor space for the family homes which are adjacent.

Nominated for best Building Re-use: Edinburgh Printmakers

The Edinburgh Printmakers is located within the former headquarters of the North British Rubber Company.

The redevelopment project by Page/Park Architects has transformed a derelict building into an accessible multi-use arts complex centred around printmaking production. It features a visitor attraction with two galleries, shop, café, education space, an office, archives and large print studio, with many original materials retained or upcycled.

Nominated for best Public Realm Landscaping: Calton Hill City Observatory

HarrisonStevens developed a concept design around constellations and planetary orbits to complement the restoration of the City Observatory on Calton Hill.

Working with the Collective Gallery’s artist in residence, Tessa Lynch, the design creates a sense of place and time, with landscaping to link up geological features with architectural, planting to illustrate the passing of the seasons and the use of traditional alongside contemporary materials.

RIAS/RIBA Awards shortlist announced

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced an 18 strong shortlist for its 2020 awards. Four Edinburgh buildings made the final cut.

The shortlist for Scotland comprises the following buildings (listed alphabetically):

Aberdeen Art Gallery (contract value not for publication)
Hoskins Architects for Aberdeen City Council

Altarf, Isle of Skye (contract value not for publication)
Ann Nisbet Studio for a private client

An Cala, Sutherland (contract value not for publication)
Mary Arnold-Forster Architects for a private client

Bayes Centre, Edinburgh (contract value not for publication)
Bennetts Associates for University of Edinburgh

Bertha Park High School, Perth (£29m)
NORR Consultants Limited for Perth & Kinross Council

Dunira Street Housing, Glasgow (£8.38m)
Elder & Cannon Architects for Tollcross Housing Association

Edinburgh Printmakers (contract value not for publication)
Page\Park Architects for Edinburgh Printmakers

The Egg Shed, Argyll and Bute (contract value not for publication)
Oliver Chapman Architects for Scottish Canals

Faithlie Centre, Aberdeenshire (£2.5m)
Moxon Architects Ltd with Alan S Marshall Conservation Architect for Aberdeenshire Council

Global Research Innovation and Discovery (GRID) (£12m)
Sheppard Robson Architects for Heriot-Watt University

The Hill House Box, Helensburgh (£3.2m)
Carmody Groarke for National Trust for Scotland

King’s Stables Road, Mixed-Use Development, Edinburgh (c.£40m)
Fletcher Joseph Associates for Peveril Securities and Campus DM

Kyle House, Sutherland (contract value not for publication)
Groves-Raines Architects Studios Ltd for a private client

Maidenhill Primary School & Nursery, East Renfrewshire (contract value not for publication)
BDP for East Renfrewshire Council

Maryhill Locks, Glasgow (£4.76m)
jmarchitects for Bigg Regeneration Limited

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow (£21m)
Ryder Architecture for The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

sportscotland National Sports Training Centre, Inverclyde (£11m)
Reiach and Hall Architects for sportscotland

Watt Institution, Greenock (£1.8m)
Collective Architecture for Inverclyde Council

Judging will take place at the end of March with the RIAS Awards winners announced at a dinner at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh on 28th May. The RIBA National Awards will be announced later in the year.

Reflecting on this year’s submissions and the climate challenges for Scottish architecture, Chair of the RIAS Awards judging panel Jenny Jones commented: “Given that these projects would have been commissioned at the very least, several years ago, there are some very strong carbon-conscious submissions which demonstrate an attention to the challenges we all face.

The greater shift will become evident in the next years if we continue to challenge and create innovative responses as to how we can “build” with environmental consciousness.”

The judging panel for this year is Jenny Jones, Founding Director and Architect at Studio Jenny Jones (Chair), Tony Chapman, former head of Awards at RIBA and freelance architecture critic (representing the Royal Institute of British Architects), Brian McGinlay, Founding Director and Architect at McGinlay Bell and Ann Allen, Chair of Architecture & Design Scotland.

Nick Ribbons, Sector Manager – Construction at Zero Waste Scotland, Joann Russell, Head of Estates Conservation Directorate at Historic Environment Scotland and Steven Robb, Deputy Head of Casework, Heritage Directorate at Historic Environment Scotland were also involved in the shortlisting discussions.

Leith ‘s Fort development up for ‘property Oscar’

Twenty seven of the most innovative and community beneficial property projects from across Scotland are set to go against some of the region’s best in this year’s RICS Awards 2018, Scotland. Among them are the residential developments in Leith’s Fort (above) and 235 Corstorphine Road.  Continue reading Leith ‘s Fort development up for ‘property Oscar’