Blog: Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline
Architect: John Fraser Year Completed: 1922 Many times when we talk about architecture we think only of new buildings, where the architect's job is to think and design from scratch how these new spaces will look and feel. This idea is not far from reality but it is also the work of architects to preserve buildings that were once an important part in the history and daily life of certain places. Many buildings end up being demolished for different reasons such as high maintenance costs, the dynamics of the place have changed or simply due to lack of interest. Last [...]
Blog: Ayr Grammar Primary School
Architect: BDP Completed: 2021This project is about re-use and a re-imagination of historic education buildings as a new facility for teaching, learning and community spaces. It cleverly integrates new additions with the refurbishment of the listed buildings. An unexpected element of the project is a large archive facility, space created where an old moat had been infilled. The archive rooms do not require light so enabled the school playground to be doubled in size as part of the archive roof design. The particular aspects of the scheme that I considered to have particular merit were the central hall used for dining [...]
Blog: What’s it called? … Cumbernauld.
Architect: Geoffrey Copcutt Completed: 1963 What’s it called?... Cumbernauld. A slogan from a 1980s advert to promote the new town of Cumbernauld and encourage families to relocate there, to alleviate Glasgow’s housing problem. This Blog will explore how “Britain’s most hated building”, The Cumbernauld town centre, represents an idea and concept of community living; how it fell short of that idea including the many influences that worked against the scheme that were not related to its design. It was planned that Cumbernauld would not only look different, but it would also be different from other towns with every amenity centring on [...]
Blog: The Murphy House | Edinburgh
Client/ Architect: Richard Murphy Completed: 2016 The Murphy house is the 2016 RIBA award winner. It is a clever and whimsical design that stitches together two developments in Edinburgh's New Town, successfully terminating a complex junction whilst addressing the hill topography. The house occupies half the existing garden and must create a dialogue on 4 separate fronts, each elevation, including the roofscape, must address its surrounds: i) The Street Edge ii) Gable End Resolution iii) Neighbouring Garden + Facade iv) Overlooking Private Garden + Privacy As you can see in the image below, the design works on a number of levels, [...]
Blog: The Engine Shed | Stirling
Client: Historic Environment Scotland Architect: HES Completed: 2017 The Engine Shed was originally constructed between 1896 and 1913, but the exact date is still unknown. As it was built as part of an important military complex, aspects of the building's construction and other important pieces of information were kept from public knowledge. However what is known is that it was used as a goods transfer shed during both world wars, before it fell into disrepair. Historic Environment Scotland commissioned Reaich and Hall to restore the original sandstone structure, the clerestory windows and steel roof trusses and add two new sheds while integrating [...]
Blog: Laidlaw Music Centre
2020 Architect - Flanagan Lawrence Client - University of St Andrews After meeting a potential client on Queens Terrace I stumbled upon the new St Andrews Music School, now open and the first time I’d seen it since the scaffolding was removed. A handsome building and a new piece of Architecture Fife can be proud of. The quad that has been created in front of the Bute building adds to the public realm and enhances the historic building. The Music school mediates the traditional site and a modern building with the use of stone, in keeping with the location, and [...]
Blog: Bayes Centre
2018 Architect: Bennetts Associates Client: University of Edinburgh The Bayes Centre is a large research institute for the University of Edinburgh. Located in the heart of the City, it has become an iconic landmark of the Uni campus, and a very engaging piece of architecture. The architects have responded well to the street edge condition, using the building form to retain the inner city institutional typology whilst using large atriums and courtyards to provide the otherwise voluminous building with a sense of transparency and light. With striking sightlines within and across the courtyards, the building resents as engaging and navigable, [...]
