Stirling Society of Architects Awards, Scottish Building, Project, News, Design, Property
SSA Design Awards 2009, Scotland, UK, Europe
4 Nov 2009 Stirling Society of Architects - Design Awards 2009 : Results The Stirling Society of Architects, a chapter of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland, has announced the winner of its inaugural design awards. The event was held in the Best Western Park Hotel, Falkirk on 22nd October 2009. Sponsored by Ibstock Brick, the award was open to all practices across Scotland and called for entries for any project completed in 2007 & 2008 in the chapter area that covered the central Scotland areas of Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire. The entries received covered a wide range of projects from practices based across the country of which a short list of 6 was drawn up. Following a day of judging by David Dunbar, president of the RIAS and celebrated architect, Professor Andy MacMillan the winning entries were selected. In the end it was Falkirk based OMI Architects' Easter Greenrigg Steading development for local developer GRS Homes that walked away with the top S-S-A 'Best Building' design award 2009. As well as wining the award, the project now goes forward for the 'RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture' - the largest monetary prize award for Architecture in the UK with a top prize of £25,000. It was a successful night for OMI as the 2nd award also went to the young practice for their innovative extension to a converted Coach House in Falkirk. The project received the 'judges commendation' for its highly detailed and innovative response to the project brief. Judges comments: The Coach House (Commendation) The judges felt that this project had been carefully considered and thoughtfully detailed. It created some much needed additional space to a family home and the use of natural light created an impression of space which belies the extensions modest size. The judges were also aware that projects of this nature are often commissioned without the services of a Chartered Architect and it was felt that this was an excellent example of the added value and excellent design which can be achieved through using a Chartered Architect. It was felt that this project was worthy of a Commendation and that it embodied many of the merits of the overall winning project albeit on a more modest scale. Easter Greenrigg Steading (Award Winner) The judges felt that this project eschewed quality throughout, from the overall design, through attention to detail and the specification of quality finishes. The design has successfully made the most of the wonderful views to the surrounding countryside and has made the most of an existing rural building to create modern homes encompassing an awareness of three dimensional space within the public spaces. However, although the entry submission for this project was specifically for one unit, the judges unanimously felt that the development worked cohesively as a whole and that this was a key factor in the overall success of the development. Winners comments; Easter Greenrigg project Architect Ryan Marshall commented, " I am delighted that we have won these awards , not just for us as a practice but also for our clients who do put a lot of trust in us. Being afforded the trust and belief in your ability by someone brings a lot of responsibility and when you undertake a project like Easter Greenrigg steading that tries to challenge the norm, that trust is put to the test, especially in the current economic climate!. I am extremely happy to say that this has paid off and that the award is a testament to the belief shown in our ideas by Graham Scott at GRS homes. It would have been easy for him to look for a more straightforward design but he gave us the freedom to express our ideas. This has been rewarded in the sale of all the properties and indeed this award. I hope that other developers/house builders can perhaps start to think a little more out of the box in terms of what they build in the local area. I think in the current climate people are questioning how they spend their money and are asking more questions of what they are being offered. That can easily apply to both new houses and extensions. We have a number of local projects & developments on the drawing boards and I hope that our designs can be seen as a positive contribution to the urban fabric and to the image of the town as a whole." Practice director Adam Toleman voiced his delight at winning the top two prizes in the inaugural event. "We are a relatively young architectural practice who are working hard to achieve the best that we can for our clients and we have built up an impressive portfolio of work over the last eight years. To have this recognised by winning both "Best Building" and the 2nd place "Commendation" gives us great impetus to continue producing quality buildings throughout the area." "The move to new offices in Cockburn Street, Falkirk two years ago was good for raising the profile of the practice but most of our work comes via recommendations from previous clients, people recognise when something special has been achieved and are very willing to pass our name onto others". "These awards have come at a good time, although the construction industry is not having it easy at the moment good design does I think pay off. Projects we are involved in are selling and we have remained busy throughout the last year. I think it is testament to a good, talented team and I have to hand out my own congratulations to both Ryan Marshall and Sandy Wilson who have put so much energy into the practice." GRS Homes' Graham Scott congratulated the practice and went on to say.. "We have worked on a number of developments with OMI now and the result has been the completion of some very successful projects. It is great for us to be associated with the award and is a great endorsement for the skills of the team at OMI Architects whom I can not speak highly enough of, as well as my own team who have strived to make the architects vision a reality." A spokesperson from the S.S.A commented: " This event, the first event in the chapter history, is aimed at drawing attention to our built environment across central Scotland in the Stirling chapter area. It is intended that this will be come an annual event on the awards calendar. A lot of good work is done in the chapter and the S.S.A Design award is a vehicle to raise awareness of this work and celebrate it. In doing so it is hoped that, as with the success seen in the Glasgow and Edinburgh chapter awards, public interest can be stimulated and that the desire for well designed buildings and public spaces can further developed with in the chapter. We look forward now to next years awards and hope that the event can continue to grow from this years success " The Stirling Society of Architects - Oct 2009 President - Sandy Dawson Secretary - Moira Bain |
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