The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has shortlisted 24 projects for its 2015 awards, the single most important recognition of architectural achievement in Scotland. This year’s judging panel, chaired by Iain Dickson PPRIAS, will now visits all 24 sites to determine which projects are “worthy” of an award, only choosing those in which they feel “best address the key role of architecture: to improve the quality of people’s lives.”
See all 24 shortlisted projects, after the break.
Arcadia Nursery, Edinburgh / Malcolm Fraser Architects
“Designed to encourage play and nurture creativity, this delight-filled children’s nursery provides three, linked, playrooms each accessing a covered terrace.”
Beach House, Morar / Dualchas Architects
“This house takes maximum advantage of its coastal setting, its calm austerity and robust form appropriate in this elemental landscape.”
Bonnington House / Benjamin Tindall Architects
“Two new wings designed to complement the original extend this A Listed house to create an impressive family home.”
Burns Wynd, Maybole / Austin-Smith:Lord LLP
“The slope of the site is cleverly exploited within the deep plans of these new homes, allowing each a sheltered garden.”
Dalmunach Distillery, Moray / Archial Norr (Inverness Studio)
“Elegantly addressing the functional requirements of a contemporary distillery, this building also draws upon the rich history of such buildings.”
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Bill Scott Sculpture Centre (Phase 1) & Creative Laboratories (Phase 2) / Sutherland Hussey Architects
“Restrained and appropriately sculptural, this important new facility greatly enhances both the local area and Edinburgh’s cultural attraction.”
Glasgow Film Theatre - Cinema 3 / NORD Architecture
“Carefully inserted within the historic fabric, this third screen is respectful to the materials and form of the much loved original.”
Highland Steading / Marcus Lee and cameronwebster architects
“Commanding long views, the building adapts an existing steading to create luxurious living with service accommodation onto the rear courtyard.”
House at Ravelston Dykes, Edinburgh / Richard Murphy Architects
“This subtle extension greatly improves the house’s connection with its site and creates welcoming and comfortable family accommodation.”
jmarchitects Glasgow Studio / jmarchitects
“Quite literally putting architecture onto the street, this new shop/office simultaneously accommodates the practice and promotes its work.”
Lamb's House, Edinburgh / Groves-Raines Architects Ltd
“This rare survivor has been carefully restored from near dereliction and returned to its original usage, accommodating a business and home.”
Laurieston Transformational Area, Glasgow / PagePark Architects and Elder and Cannon Architects
“Reinterpreting the traditional Glasgow tenement, these blocks, fittingly urban in scale, provide high quality homes close to the heart of the city.”
Maggie's Lanarkshire, Airdrie / Reiach and Hall Architects
“A respite from the clinical atmosphere and built form of the nearby hospital, this is a place of relaxation and contemplation.”
Mid Rock House, Elie / WT Architecture
“Cleverly scaled to the existing vernacular, this is contemporary beach-side architecture, utilising a limited materials palette in seductively simple forms.”
The Mill, Scottish Borders / WT Architecture
“A new timber home has been inserted within the existing walls, retaining much historic character while creating a well-lit contemporary dwelling.”
Penicuik House, Midlothian / Simpson and Brown Architects
“An enduring reminder of the Scottish Enlightenment, this consolidation of one of Scotland’s most important historic houses has taken twenty years.”
Regency Dormer, Edinburgh / Konishi Gaffney Architects
“Challenging more conventional and traditional approaches, this low profile dormer window, elegantly detailed, transforms the home, setting new standards.”
Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art / Steven Holl Architects with jmarchitects
“A building of extraordinary rigor was required as a foil to Mackintosh’s masterpiece, eschewing pastiche it nods respectfully to its neighbor.”
Rosefield, Edinburgh / A449 LTD
“Respecting the utilitarian aesthetic of this former stable/coach house, this adaptation utilizes a restrained palette to create a new family home.”
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow / Malcolm Fraser Architects
“Former industrial spaces now provide flexible rehearsal rooms alongside larger, new-build, multi-purpose spaces, greatly enhancing the facilities of the Conservatoire.”
The Shields Centre, Glasgow / Anderson Bell + Christie Architects
“Combining two medical practices with other social service provision, this building signals its presence with a brick-classical colonnade onto the street.”
Speirs Centre, Alloa / LDN Architects LLP
“Adapting an impressive Victorian public baths and gym with an uncompromisingly new extension delivers important new community facilities and offices.”
Theatre Royal, Glasgow / Page Park Architects
“Creating a welcoming entrance foyer and embracing a sinuous stair, this new structure also boldly signposts Scottish Opera’s HQ.”
West Burn Lane, St Andrews / Sutherland Hussey Architects
“Following St Andrews’ historic ‘rigg’ pattern, this new development is gracefully inserted within one of Scotland’s most historic urban environments.”
News via RIAS