Edinburgh News - February 2011 : Buildings in Scotland

Edinburgh News : February 2011

Edinburgh & Lothian Building News

Edinburgh News - Feb 2011 Commonwealth Games Cultural Venues Scottish Government allocates more than a million pounds for work on the Theatre Royal and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - see Glasgow News for more. 28 Feb Scottish Sustainability Legislation New planning rules will make it easier for owners of public buildings and businesses to install microgeneration equipment and generate energy using technologies such as solar panels without requiring planning permission. The legislation is intended to incentivise the use of on-site renewable energy technologies and contribute to the achievement of the Scottish Government's renewable heat and electricity targets. The Government has already reduced the planning burden for homeowners wishing to install certain technologies. But planning permission is still required to install similar equipment on non-domestic buildings. Following a consultation last year, the Scottish Government has now laid a Parliamentary Order that will pave the way for various technologies to be installed on non-domestic buildings from March 18, including: • Solar thermal panels; • Solar photo voltaic panels; • Pipework for ground source heat pumps; • Pipework for water source heat pumps; • Biomass boilers. Infrastructure Minister Keith Brown said: "These changes will help cut red tape in the planning system and enable savings on energy bills. More use of microgeneration technologies such as solar panels can help Scots reduce their emissions and boost the development of a low carbon economy, which is key to Scotland's future success as a nation, creating new jobs in an emerging industry. "While we cannot have renewable energy equipment anywhere or at any cost, these measures strike the right balance between allowing small scale renewables and safeguarding the quality of our environment. They have been introduced following thorough consultation and complement the work we have already undertaken to make it easier for householders to install similar technologies. "It will also contribute to our efforts to ensure that Scotland's planning system is an aid rather than a barrier to increasing sustainable economic growth." 25 Feb. Ref. www.scotland.gov.uk Former Catalan President Honoured The former President of Catalonia, Pasqual Maragall, who is on a short visit to Scotland, has today been honoured by the presentation of an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. President Maragall was Mayor of Barcelona from 1982 to 1997 and provided the political drive and vision which led to Barcelona securing the Olympic Games for 1992. The President also drove many of the initiatives which regenerated Barcelona and helped transform it into a major economic success and a magnet for tourists from throughout the world. image : Jordi Bedmar Although he is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease, President Maragall generously participated in a question and answer event before an invited audience at Edinburgh’s Lower Signet Library. Along with his friend, the Barcelona architect David Mackay, he responded to questions on the regeneration of Barcelona after the forty year dictatorship of General Franco, how the Olympic Games were secured and how the legacy of the Games continues to benefit the city. The vote of thanks at the event was given by Fiona Hyslop MSP, Minister for Culture and External Affairs. Ms Hyslop, who issued the formal invitation from the Scottish Government for President Maragall’s visit to Scotland, commended the Past President’s vision, particularly his inspired commissioning of architectural and environmental projects. She also specifically commented on the warm and enduring relationship between Catalonia and Scotland and how the lessons learned from the Barcelona Olympics will be useful to Scotland in the lead up to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She said: “Today, Barcelona is recognised as one of the most important and beautiful cities to visit in the world. To transform the city of old into the place that we now know took remarkable vision, skill and determination. Glasgow 2014 will generate lasting benefits for the whole of Scotland and I am sure there is a lot we can still learn from President Maragall's experience of delivering such a positive legacy from a major sporting event.” The President’s visit was supported by The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland whose President, David Dunbar commented: “Pasqual Maragall’s reputation and influence extends well beyond Catalonia. The regeneration of Barcelona through imaginative architecture and major events, particularly the Olympic Games, is an example from which many other cities have learned. President Maragall instinctively understands the contribution which architects, clever strategic planning and high quality cultural, commercial and residential development can make to cities. Barcelona’s investment in ideas has paid off massively. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is delighted that we have been able to work with the Scottish Government to bring such an inspiring visitor to Scotland.” President Maragall’s Fellowship is the highest honour the Incorporation pays to non-architects and recognises his vision, his inspired architectural commissioning and his major and enduring contribution to European politics. 25 Feb EUSAS Talk image from EUSAS Packman Lucas with Ron Packman 6.30pm prompt 25 Feb - see Edinburgh Events Scotland's Housing Expo Event Scotland's Housing Expo : Event. 25 Feb Adolf Loos Exhibition Opens RIBA Event, London : Adolf Loos Exhibition now open. 24 Feb Musselburgh Building The Stables Pavilion building at Musselburgh racecourse, officially opened in June 2010 by First Minister, Alex Salmond, has won this year's Musselburgh Conservation Society Annual Design Award. 23 Feb South Clerk Street Odeon Cinema Petition Former Odeon Cinema Edinburgh - "A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is our last hope to breathe life back into the old Odeon building". 22 Feb Super Insulated House photo © Gavin Fraser Roslin House, near Edinburgh : Reiach and Hall Architects. 18 Feb Ravenscraig New Town North Lanarkshire Council submit proposals for Scottish Government approval re £1.1 billion new town plan at the former steelworks at Ravenscraig. 13 Feb AiA News The Edinburgh Evening News report that a "Community architecture and development project" has been asked to leave its premises at The Lighthouse in Granton. Art in Architecture, run by artists Ross McEwan and Shaeron Averbuch, was given notice to quit by the city council, which owns the building, and its property agent, Waterfront Edinburgh Limited (WEL). The organisation is understood to have been in arrears with its rent. However, Mr McEwan said he was due to pay off the arrears this week, and was angry that AiA had not been given the option to stay on and meet the higher rent in future. He said: "They say they've got somebody else to take it over to give them more money, but they never gave us the chance. We were slightly in arrears that we are just about to pay off, but we weren't given the option to stay. "We've got lots of community workshops planned for the next six months." AiA have been told to vacate the building by 23 May. AiA is behind the Granton Sur Mer project to revitalise the Granton and Leith Waterfront, and also helped residents of the Flower Colonies in Slateford Road formulate their opposition to a housing development, which was denied permission last August. AiA are hoping to bring the WAF Transformations exhibition from Barcelona to Edinburgh from May to June, more online closer to the time. Previously they tried to organise the Edinburgh Waterfront Symposium. 16 Feb Riccarton Student Village Work on £14m Heriot-Watt University student village development due to begin on 21 Feb at the Riccarton campus - blocks with 277 bedrooms replacing 1970's accommodation. 14 Feb Museum of Scotland Video inside National Museum of Scotland - due to fully reopen to the public following a £46.4m refurbishment on 29 Jul - showing work so far - BBC video. 14 Feb Taste Good Restaurant Taste Good Restaurant - Interior Design : a+j burridge. 8 Feb Quartermile Housing Quartermile Housing : Richard Murphy Architects. 7 Feb Cameron Toll Expansion Planning officials recommend the Cameron Toll extension application be granted, but councillors will have the final say on Wednesday. 7 Feb. Website Navigation simplified: 'Houses', 'Restaurants' now accessed only via 'Architecture' which is the new name for the original 'Tours' page. 'Site Traffic' now accessed via 'Rate Card'. NORD House The Shingle House, Dungeness : NORD. 4 Feb Urban Realm News Urban Realm - Management Buy Out : UK's oldest architecture magazine. 3 Feb Edinburgh Architect Job Morgan McDonnell Architecture Ltd. are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, well organised and self reliant part 3 qualified architect - see Edinburgh Architect Jobs. Edinburgh Architects Renewal date Monday 31 Jan for Edinburgh Architects Listings Jo Yeates Tribute BDP Architects : Jo Yeates Tribute - Statement. 3 Feb St Joseph’s Primary St.Joseph’s Primary School, South Lanarkshire : RMJM architects. 2 Feb Shetland Competition RIAS Consultancy is managing a design competition for Shetland Islands Council. The competition, launched 5 Nov 2010, is for a small sustainable housing project for a designated site at Foulaburn, Bressay. Thirty-eight, pre qualification, submissions were received and shortlisted by Shetland Islands Council to identify four practices that have been invited to complete the second stage: - Anderson Bell + Christie - Gokay Deveci Chartered Architect - Redman + Sutherland Architects - Richard Gibson Architects The four shortlisted practices are to submit design proposals by 9 Mar 2011. Separate competitions for architectural students and for local schools are being run in parallel with the main competition. 2 Feb Edinburgh Architect Job Morgan McDonnell Architecture Ltd. are looking to appoint an enthusiastic, well organised and self reliant part 3 qualified architect - see Edinburgh Architect Jobs. 1 Feb Edinburgh Architects Renewal date was Monday 31 Jan for Edinburgh Architects Listings The Lighthouse Exhibitions The 2011 events kicked off with 'V&A at Dundee Architectural Competition' Exhibition from 1 - 18 Feb - see Events link in the navigation column Highlights from Jan 2011 Napier University Campus picture from architect Napier University Sighthill Campus : RMJM Architects. 24 Jan Scottish National Arena Glasgow Scottish National Arena Glasgow by Foster & Partners to go on site in Feb South Glasgow Hospital £842m 'super hospital' designed by Nightingale Associates gets final approval: South Glasgow Hospital. 24 Jan Centre for Virus Research Centre for Virus Research at the University of Glasgow: Sheppard Robson. 18 Jan Waverley Steps Major improvements to Waverley Station's Princes Street entry to start next month: Waverley Steps. 14 Jan Edinburgh News for December

Commonwealth Games

Royal Museum of Scotland

Ocean Terminal

Jewel & Esk Valley College

National Portrait Gallery

St James Centre

Quartermile Edinburgh

Scottish Architecture News

Glasgow News

Edinburgh Building News Summary

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Edinburgh Building News Feb 2011 - Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt