Royal Fine Arts Commission, RFAC

Royal Fine Arts Commission, RFAC, Edinburgh, Scottish Building, Architect

RFAC, Edinburgh : Architecture + Design Scotland

Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland – design by Richard Murphy, Edinburgh

RFAC Edinburgh

Royal Fine Arts Commission, Bakehouse Close, Holyrood, Edinburgh
Date built: 1996
Design: Richard Murphy Architects

Royal Fine Arts Commission
RFAC, Edinburgh: building image © Adrian Welch

Now home to A+DS – Architecture + Design Scotland

Sensitive refurbishment scheme typical of Murphy with two of his characteristic grey-painted metal sliding screens, one forming an elegant door, and ‘quiet’ insertion of apertures into the randomly-coursed stonework using dressed sandstone.

RFAC, Edinburgh
RFACs, Edinburgh: photo © Adrian Welch

Don’t miss the small suspended metal balconies clutched to the south façade.

RFAC – build cost: £150k
RFACs, Scotland
RFACs, Edinburgh: image © Adrian Welch

Royal Fine Arts Commission
RFAC, North Holyrood: image © Adrian Welch

North Holyrood Masterplan

RFAC / RFACs / RFACFS: The Future
In 2004 proposals to replace the RFACs – or RFACFS as they became known latterly – with a new body reached fruition. Known colloquially as McCabe or CABE scotland after the English-based body of similar orientation the provisional title was Architecture & Design Scotland. What’s in a name? Plenty to choose from anyway.

Sebastian Tombs: A+DS
RIAS Chief Exec / Secretary appointed as Chief Executive of Architecture and Design Scotland
01.03.05

RFAC
building photo © Adrian Welch, Sep 2006, with a lumix camera

Architecture and Design Scotland
The Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland is to be Raymond Young OBE, an architect and a former senior member of staff of Scottish Homes. The Deputy Chairs are Professor Brian Evans and Malcolm Fraser.
The new public body, Architecture and Design Scotland, is being established as the national champion for good architecture and design in the built environment and replaces the RFAC.

Scottish Parliament

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

RIAS CALLS FOR TRANSFORMATION OF RFACS
On 26 March 2003, RIAS Council discussed and supported a proposal concerning the future of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland (RFACS).
Council strongly supported the proposal that, in the context of the Scottish Executive’s Policy on Architecture, published in October 2001:
a) The Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland be transformed into an independent champion for the built environment, with a remit (and budget) to be proactive in public and private sectors.
b) A regional network of architecture/design panels be developed, based in the cities, modelled on the successful Glasgow Amenity Liaison Committee.
c) Champions for architecture are required within local government, Local Enterprise and the health sector.
Council’s position was communicated via email to all MSPs. The Council Report on the RFACS can be downloaded from the RIAS website
02.04.03
Royal Fine Arts Commission

Richard Murphy: some of the Edinburgh Buildings featured on this site:
Fruitmarket Gallery
Royal Fine Arts Commission
Moray Place
Oloroso
Dublin Street

Richard Murphy: some of the Scottish Buildings featured on this site:
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Stirling Tolbooth

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