Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre, Aberdeenshire

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre, STBF Aberdeenshire Building Development, Northeast Scotland Architecture

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre, Scotland

Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Facility: Aberdeenshire Education Building design by Brown + Brown Architects

4 Jul 2013

Design: Brown + Brown Architects

Location: Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Aberdeenshire Boatbuilding Centre

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire building

Boatbuilding Education Building

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (STBF) began their process of boat building education in response to a rise in teenage anti-social behaviour in the town of Portsoy, which is long-recognised as a centre of maritime culture and history.

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire STBF Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire for STBF
images from architect

As the success of this project grew, it expanded organically to incorporate joint teaching ventures with nearby schools, in addition to the extension of workshops to all age groups. This unanticipated success has allowed the STBF to take the ambitious step of commissioning a dedicated boatbuilding workshop and teaching facility.

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire STBF Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire
images from architect

Ongoing community engagement has been key to the design approach, as with all projects commissioned by, and indeed intended for, a community. This iterative and interactive process shaped, questioned, and refined the brief, before ultimately shaping the finalised design.

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre Aberdeenshire
images from architect

When dealing with a project of this nature, for clients who by the very definition of their organisation possess unparalleled knowledge and understanding of timber and craft, it is vital that the finished building acts as a reflection of those skills, approaches, and values, both in terms of design and materiality. The starting point for the brief became a short list of requirements, coupled with a minimal materials palette designed to echo the buildingʼs function, celebrate elements of the existing stone skin, and honestly display the structure.

Scottish Traditional Boat Festival design by Brown + Brown Architects Scottish Traditional Boat Festival by Brown + Brown Architects
drawings from architect

A solution was developed that will allow the client to help shape their building, through the construction of moveable ʻpodʼ rooms, which inhabit an overarching industrial-scale space. These pods will be conceived, constructed, and ultimately used by the very people who inhabit the building, whilst acquiring and developing the skills which give this project its purpose.

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Facility project is due for completion in June 2014.

Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre for STBF information / images from Brown + Brown Architects

Location: Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, northeast Scotland, United Kingdom

Aberdeen Building Designs

Aberdeen

Aberdeen Architecture News

A recent Aberdeenshire building design by Brown & Brown Architects:

The Arbor House
The Arbor House Aberdeen Scotland
photo © Jim Stephenson
The Arbor House

Contemporary Aberdeen Architectural Designs – recent selection from e-architect:

ONE BioHub, Foresterhill Health Campus
Design: BDP
ONE BioHub Aberdeen life sciences building
image courtesy of architects practice
ONE BioHub Aberdeen life sciences building

Aberdeen City Garden
Union Terrace Gardens

Aberdeen FC Stadium
Aberdeen FC Stadium Building

Aberdeen University Library Building
Aberdeen University Library design by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects

Donald Trump Golf Development masterplan design by Gareth Hoskins Architects

Aberdeenshire Home design by Paterson Architects

Aberdeenshire Housing

Aberdeenshire House

Buildings / photos for the Portsoy Boatbuilding Centre – Aberdeenshire Architecture for the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival design by Brown + Brown Architects page welcome