St Andrews Transformation
This 1970’s semi-detached bungalow has been transformed into a strikingly contemporary award-winning family house. The 2-bedroom bungalow was devoid of natural light because the corridor running through the middle of the house prevented any shared light from front to back.Our solution was to rethink open plan living by creating a kitchen that is a bespoke piece of furniture and positioning it in the centre of the house, front and central. The green ‘C’ wall provided some privacy and acoustic protection to the living room whilst retaining views and light spill.
St Andrews West Visitor Centre
A modular visitor centre concept using repurposed shipping containers, designed to include a café, marketing and exhibition space, and meeting rooms. The layout explores various configurations linked by lightweight glazed structures, with materials and branding inspired by St Andrews West. The proposal prioritises flexibility, minimal site impact through temporary foundations, and sustainability with an air source heat pump.
Sustainable Seafront Home
This coastal new build in St Andrews is a bold, sustainability-driven project set within a narrow, terraced plot. Designed in close collaboration with a highly ambitious client, the home integrates a range of innovative environmental strategies to create a low-impact, energy-positive dwelling.The structure is built using timber to reduce embodied carbon and wrapped in a high-performance thermal envelope to minimise heat loss. A central skylight draws daylight deep into the plan and is automated to help regulate internal temperatures throughout the day. The use of triple-glazed timber windows and a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system ensures year-round comfort while maximising energy efficiency.
Fisher and Donaldson South Street – South Street, St Andrews
Founded in 1919 and family-owned for over five generations, Fisher & Donaldson seeks to retain and strengthen its presence in the town centre through the creation of a contemporary, accessible, and sustainable premises that reflects both its heritage and future ambitions. This project involves the adaptive reuse and refurbishment of a vacant Category C listed property within the St Andrews Conservation Area into a new flagship bakery, café, and retail destination for the long-established local business Fisher & Donaldson.
The Brass House
Our design transforms an existing house into a 3 storey family home which is better suited to modern living, this included an open plan kitchen, dining, and living space on the ground floor.These ground floor spaces are subtly separated by a curved wall which houses a kitchen run and is offset from the ceiling to elude to one space. A small-scaled gymnasium is also located on the ground floor.
The Potting Shed
Formerly the work and potting sheds for the park this early 20th century brick structure was underused and in need of a new life.RKA continued their working relationship with Friends of Craigtoun with the commission to prepare a design for a new café and education space as part of a wider masterplan.
