The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced the 8 exceptional winners of the 2022 RIAS Awards – Scotland’s national architecture awards.
Drawn from all across Scotland, these incredible buildings are:
Forth Valley College – Falkirk Campus, Falkirk by Reiach and Hall Architects
Marking the culmination of a decade-long estates programme, this project embodies a progressive approach to inclusive education, enhanced by cutting-edge classrooms and flexible spaces for science and technology, engineering, sport and healthcare.
Havenfield Mews, Edinburgh by Sonia Browse Architects
A development of 3 light-filled and sustainable townhouses in a new mews street in Edinburgh, this small-scale project is sympathetic to the existing style and character of the neighbourhood, and has been carefully designed as a place for people rather than for vehicles.
High Sunderland, Galashiels by Loader Monteith
High Sunderland is a 1957 Category A-listed modernist icon designed by Peter Womersley, which has undergone an extraordinarily careful and skilful restoration, following a fire in 2017. The result combines a forensic approach to building conservation and reuse, while improving the home’s energy performance.
Jedburgh Grammar Campus, Jedburgh by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design
Based on the concept of ‘nurture’, this design prioritises student mental health and well-being. Flexible spaces allow students to take ownership of their space, and instead of generic classrooms, offer a variety of places for learning, presenting, socialising, making and retreating.
Lockerbie Sawmill, Lockerbie by Konishi Gaffney
Home to the new offices and visitor centre at the UK’s largest sawmill, this building showcases the client, James Jones and Sons’ ambition, as well as its operations, as it is almost entirely erected from their own products. An ode to sustainable timber construction, the project looks to minimise the use of steel and maximise timber.
Ostro Passivhaus, Kippen by Paper Igloo
Ostro is an exemplary low-energy home that dispels the myth that contemporary architecture cannot be environmentally beneficial. Aa labour of love for the architect-homeowners, all aspects of the design meaningfully contribute to the story of the building, and its beauty and durability in the face of the climate crisis.
Quarry Studios, Aberdeenshire by Moxon Architects
Moxon Architects’ own office is a low-lying building, nestled into its site in a former quarry in Cairngorm National Park, surrounded by thick forest. The welcoming and accessible building combines a studio and café; providing valuable amenity to the small community and supporting local labour through the promotion of traditional trades and contemporary construction techniques.
The Den, Tighnabruaich by Technique Architecture and Design in collaboration with Stallan-Brand
Two dilapidated flats were combined to create this holiday home and studio space. Conceived as a playful den and lookout post with views across the Kyles of Bute, the existing walls and floorboards were retained and encased within a new plywood volume – clad with an insulated metal ‘exoskeleton’.
The RIAS Awards demonstrate the quality and breadth of architectural endeavour in Scotland. All eight of these impressive schemes will now become the ‘longlist’ for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award which will be announced in November.
You can see annd read more about the 2022 RIAS Awards winners on the BBC News Scotland website.