Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016: Property

Edinburgh Architecture News Autumn 2016, Lothian Buildings, Architects, Images, Scotland, Design

Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016

Scottish Architectural + Construction Updates July to November 2016 – East of Scotland Property

September to November 2016 Archive

Edinburgh Architecture News

Scotland’s Construction Expo

Day Two features (24th):

The Women in Construction Afternoon Tea is at 2.30pm – 4pm – FREE tea, coffee and pastries.

The Sustainability Summit featuring top level speakers from BRE, Energy Savings Trust, Glasgow City Council, MEARU, Atkins and many more.

Conference Sessions with key presenters including speakers from the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Balfour Beatty, Transport Scotland, Institute of Civil Engineers Scotland, McTaggart and Mickel, Austin Smith: Lord, ECD Architects.

2 CPD Workshop Areas running all day with training sessions on Business Development, Marketing Tools & Skills and Sustainable Building.

120 Booth Exhibition showcasing their products and services.

Cairngorms National Park Authority Architecture Awards
22 Nov – The Cairngorms National Park Authority have moved to recognise the best design within the park area, designating a private home at Newe, Strathdon, with their top honour, reports Urban Realm.

Strathdon House by Brown + Brown Architects was praised for its ‘compelling, simple design’ which saw it recognized as best residential new build. Runner up was Tigh an Uillt in Nethybridge, an extension to an existing property.

HRI’s Russwood offices at Newtonmore claimed top honours in the commercial category. Corndavon Bridge in Deeside picked up the infrastructure prize.

Am Fasgadh at the Highland Folk Museum, also in Newtonmore, was recognized for its place-making qualities.

Scottish Building of the Century
17 Nov – Scotland’s favourite building revealed.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop will be in Dundee tomorrow to reveal the winner of the Scotstyle building of the century, as nominated by the Scottish public.
Part of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, Scotstyle is one of the Festival of Architecture headline exhibitions celebrating the top 100 Scottish buildings from 1916 to 2015.

Scotland’s home builders respond to review into declining home ownership
16 Nov – Responding to the findings of the Redfern review into the decline of home ownership, Homes for Scotland Chief Executive Nicola Barclay welcomed the focus on a “long-term, cross-party approach to housing issues”, saying:

“The conclusions of the Redfern Review echo the joined-up approach to increasing housing supply which we are calling for in Scotland. With all political parties acknowledging the fundamental national need for more homes, the report further reinforces that the challenge of delivering more homes on the ground can only be achieved by working in partnership with all levels of government over the long term.

“It is important that we fully recognise the housing needs of our growing population, whether that be the aspiration of the majority to own their own home or by increasing access across other tenures in order to create and sustain a healthy market for all.”

Tour a Unique Mezzanine Apartment in Edinburgh
16 Nov – Installing a mezzanine floor in a double-height apartment to transform it from a one-bed flat into a two-bed home. Architect Jonathan Thomas and his wife were first-time buyers. When they came across this one-bedroom flat in a 19th century former nursing home in central Edinburgh, however, Thomas tapped into some potential that possibly only an architect could spot:
Mezzanine Apartment in Edinburgh

Vote for the Best Building in Scotland
If you go to the www.foa2016.com/scotstyle website before the 18th November (this Friday) you have the opportunity of voting from a list of ten for the best building in Scotland from the last 100 years.

Buildings include Dundee Contemporary Arts by Richard Murphy Architects, The Scottish Parliament by EMBT / RMJM and the National Museum of Scotland by Benson + Forsyth.

Richard Murphy’s House
Richard Murphy’s own house at Hart Street Edinburgh is one of 20 to feature in the forthcoming Channel 4 RIBA / Grand Designs “House of the Year 2016” programmes.
The four week series starts on Thursday 24th November with Hart Street featuring the following week, Thursday 1st December at 9.00pm. If shortlisted for the final it will also appear on Thursday 15th December at the same time.

Carolina Cruz Guimarey. Walking In Circles

11 – 26 November
Opening: 11 November, 6 – 8 pm

The Spanish artist Carolina Cruz Guimarey will arrive in Edinburgh in order to walk. She will trace circular routes, an action vested with multiple meanings. We walk in circles when we are lost, as if trapped in an endless cycle. It is also a statement of resistance, or a reflection of nature: walking in circles while the earth turns on itself and around the sun, while the moon turns around the earth.

We walk in circles like an imprisoned dog around his house, like a protagonist in endless repetition of life and seasons. Walking in circles makes us Taoists; it keeps us from getting lost, calms our mind and heart, and allows us to rediscover meaning in meaninglessness.

Interview Room 11 is housed in Ocean Terminal, a shopping mall. This context, goal-oriented in its focus on commercial transactions, enhances Carolinas work by standing in stark contrast to the diffuse, inquisitive action of wandering with no particular goal.

In addition to circular walks, Carolina will exhibit her previous photographic works. The relationship between body and nature is central to all her photographs, where she explores the intersection of natural and human landscapes in order to create a new, hybrid universe.

This project is supported by Acción Cultural Española (PICE, Programme for the Internationalization of Spanish Culture) Furthermore, the gallery thanks for the generous help of Consulado general de España en Edimburgo

Interview Room 11
Ocean Terminal Level 1
Ocean Drive
Edinburgh
EH6 6JJ

Home

Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards for 2017
11 Nov – The Scottish Civic Trust is calling for nominations from local civic trusts, amenity societies, community councils and other heritage or community groups around Scotland for new buildings, restoration projects, landscape designs and other placemaking projects for the annual My Place Awards. The trust is also looking for nominations for a winner of the My Place Civic Champion award.

Riccarton Mains Village
11 Nov – Planning permission in principle is being sought for an ‘independent village’ for students and permanent residents at Heriot-Watt Universities Riccarton Campus, reports Urban Realm. Led by landowner H&H Group Riccarton Mains Village will involve provision of 200 homes, 200 student flats, a community centre and supermarket on 12 hectares of land using designs intended to respect the area’s ‘rural character’.

National Galleries of Scotland Fly Through
11 Nov – fly-through of The National Galleries of Scotland redevelopment by Hoskins Architects:

Scottish National Gallery Transformation

Paul Curran appointed Chairman of the Scottish Property Federation
10 Nov – Paul Curran, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based Quartermile Developments, has been announced as the new Chairman of the Scottish Property Federation (SPF).

Paul Curran, managing director, Quartermile Developments - Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016

Succeeding current Chairman Chris Stewart, Chief Executive of the Chris Stewart Group, Paul took up his new position at the SPF’s Annual Dinner at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 10 November 2016.

Paul, as the SPF’s figurehead in Scotland, will use his new position to advocate the benefits of the real estate sector to the Scottish economy but also emphasise the importance of attracting global capital to Scotland which can in turn be invested locally.

David Melhuish, director of the SPF, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Paul Curran into his new role as Chairman. Chris Stewart has done an exceptional job over the past year, raising both our profile and engagement with government, particularly on the importance of the capital markets to the Scottish real estate industry. This is something I think Paul’s experience in working on large-scale developments and attracting investors to local Edinburgh developments will take forward.

“We look forward to working with Paul over the next 12 months to continue to strengthen our growth strategy set to benefit the property industry in Scotland.”

Paul Curran said:

“Scotland’s real estate industry contributes just under £6bn a year to the economy. Its continued growth is essential for further financial and societal benefits, including a better built environment and job creation.

“As Chairman of the SPF, over the course of the next 12 months I will focus on how we can further positively develop the industry for the nation’s advantage. In particular, we need to consider how we can make development and investment in Scotland much more attractive.

“We need to secure international capital to invest in property and infrastructure across the country. This in turn will create opportunities and drive growth in our local communities.

“In addition, we will explore how the private and public sectors can work closer together to secure this type of international investment for Scotland. The impact of land tax and business rates will form part of this dialogue to help us forge a way forward.

“I’m looking forward to working with David Melhuish and the team over what will be an extremely important 12 months for Scotland’s economy and the real estate sector.”

Paul is responsible for both Quartermile Developments’ strategic direction and the company’s successful project delivery. The business is based within its flagship Edinburgh city centre development.

Quartermile has a gross development value of £650m and is expected to be completed in 2018. When finished, the development will provide Edinburgh with 1,050 apartments – of which more than 630 are already occupied and another 176 under construction – along with 370,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, 65,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space and seven acres of open landscaping.

Paul has over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Before joining Quartermile Developments in 2005, Paul worked as a chartered surveyor in both the public and private sector and was involved in a number of high profile developments throughout the UK.

In 2013, Paul led the corporate acquisition of Quartermile with the backing of the London-based private equity fund Moorfield.

In 2014, he was responsible for an £82m funding deal with M&G Real Estate for the speculative development of the Quartermile 3 and Quartermile 4 office buildings. This represents one of the largest forward funding deals ever achieved in Scotland.

Last year, Paul secured Edinburgh’s two largest consecutive commercial pre-lets for ten years with back-to-back deals within the £50m Quartermile 4 office building.

In addition, Paul led a deal which saw the University of Edinburgh acquire the Category A-listed Surgical Hospital building in December 2015. The building will provide a home for its new interdisciplinary hub that will unite business and public policy to address societal and environmental challenges.

About Scottish Property Federation
As a membership organisation the Scottish Property Federation (SPF) is the voice of Scotland’s real estate industry. Established in 2007, SPF represents 185 organisations operating in Scotland. We include among our members: property investors including major institutional funds, developers, landlords of commercial and residential property, and professional property consultants and advisers. The SPF works closely with those who advise and decide on public policy in Scotland to ensure that they are aware of the consequences of their decisions for the property industry and wider economy.

As part of the British Property Federation we also benefit from close links with the leading UK property companies and investors in the UK as well as the BPF’s contacts with Westminster.
For more information, please visit http://www.scottishpropertyfederation.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @ScotPropFed

Dakota Deluxe Hotel
8 Nov – Edinburgh’s 3DReid announce our recent success at The Glasgow Institute of Architects’ Design Awards 2016 where the Dakota Deluxe hotel in Glasgow won top prize in the Commercial category.
Dakota Deluxe Hotel Glasgow

Maggie’s Centres Buildings
7 Nov – BBC Two’s Building Hope: The Maggie’s Centres TV programme last night featured all Maggie’s Centres including the two in Glasgow and some shots of the new one emerging at the Forth Valley designed by Garbers & James, plus a very brief interview with architect Richard Murphy about the very first Maggie’s Centre, in Edinburgh, which he designed.

Calton Hill Observatory Building News
City Observatory Building, Calton Hill Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016
photo : Jonathon Fowler
7 Nov – Esh Border Construction are to begin work on a £3m transformation of the Calton Hill observatory, Edinburgh, later this week, realizing long-held plans to create a new restaurant and gallery space within the hilltop observatory:
City Observatory Building on Calton Hill

Carnegie Museum and Arts Centre Building
Carnegie Museum and Arts Centre Dunfermline
photo from architects
4 Nov – Carnegie Museum and Arts Centre Dunfermline Building by Edinburgh’s Richard Murphy Architects

Scottish Civic Trust Annual Conference, 15th November, Celebrating Civic Pride
4 Nov – The next Scottish Civic Trust annual conference will showcase and celebrate the work of local civic trusts, amenity societies and heritage volunteers. The people that make up these groups work tirelessly to promote and protect local heritage, places and spaces. The conference will provide them with a platform to show what they have achieved, explain why they do it and set out the challenges and difficulties they face.

Architecture Website
4 Nov – We apologies for the downtime this week. It was due to some heavy DDOS attacks, sadly a sign of the times, security ramped up again.

The Saunders Centre wins RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture 2016
3 Nov – The Saunders Centre, Glasgow by PagePark Architects has been awarded the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2016.

Building An Architectural Resource
29 Oct – Today we passed the 20,000 pages mark! That is across our four architecture websites.

Ignoring architecture and design websites – like Dezeen and designboom – our platform is the largest European architecture resource in terms of traffic.

New Appointments to Historic Environment Scotland Board
28 Oct – The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, today – Friday 28th October – announced the appointment of Ian Brennan and Ian Robertson as Trustees and the reappointment of Ken Thomson and Janet Brennan to the board for Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

Ian Brennan is Director of Finance and Risk at the Scottish Housing Regulator. From November 2013 until July 2016 he was a member of the Board of Glasgow Kelvin College where he chaired the Financial Control Committee. He was also a member of the Board of Cardonald College from 2005-2013 and served as vice chair from 2011 to 2013. Ian has previously held positions in higher education, the NHS and the Accounts Commission and holds a degree in Business from Strathclyde University and an MBA from the University of Glasgow.

Working for over 30 years in the international energy business, Ian Robertson has held positions at Vice President and Executive Vice President level and retired in 2014 when he was CFO and Executive Vice President for Dutch Shell’s global and downstream business. He has extensive experience across many cultures of business strategy. A business management graduate and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Ian is currently working part-time, consulting on a commercial basis.

These appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. Both appointments and reappointments for HES are non-remunerated and hold a time commitment of 20 days per year.

Building Hope: The Maggie’s Centres BBC Scotland Documentary
27 Oct – Building Hope: The Maggie’s Centres – tells the fascinating story of Maggie’s – a unique cancer charity which began life in Edinburgh 20 years ago. In 1993, Maggie Keswick Jencks was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told she had three months to live. On hearing this devastating news she was left to sit on a plastic chair in a hospital corridor. The only place she could find to cry was a toilet cubicle.

Building Hope: The Maggie’s Centres
Sunday 6 November
BBC Two Scotland, 8.00-9.00pm

Her husband Charles Jencks, who is co-founder of the charity, said: “I think that initial shock was certainly the moment when Maggie thought we can do better than this. You don’t have to suffer in a corridor on death’s row having just been told that you are going to die.
“That was the moment architecture and medicine met in our minds.”

Maggie, from Dumfriesshire, realised there had to be a better way and spent the last year of her life working on an idea for a cancer care centre which she hoped would change the lives of other people with cancer, as well as their family and friends. The blueprints for the original centre in Edinburgh were lying on her bed the day she died in 1995.

Maggie’s family and friends were determined to turn her vision into a reality and the first centre in Scotland’s capital opened just over a year after Maggie died, with her friend – and former oncology nurse, and now Maggie’s Chief Executive – Laura Lee at the helm.

Since then the most prominent names in architecture have designed astonishing landmark buildings bearing her name across the UK, including London, and internationally in Japan and Hong Kong.
This BBC Scotland documentary features interviews with world-renowned architects Frank Gehry, Norman Foster and Richard Rogers.

This year Maggie’s celebrates its 20th anniversary, and will soon open its 20th centre in Larbert, Forth Valley.
As well as that centre and the original Edinburgh building, other Scottish centres featured in the programme include Dundee, Lanarkshire and Glasgow.

Heart of the Campus Building News
24 Oct – Work completes on major element of £30m Glasgow Caledonian University Heart of the Campus Building by PagePark Architects.

Pennywell and Muirhouse Civic Centre Building
23 Oct – Edinburgh City Council is considering plans to build a £26m civic centre and 160 affordable homes by Barton Willmore on the site of a dilapidated shopping centre in the Pennywell and Muirhouse area of North Edinburgh. Thirteen shops, office space, cafes and public services centred on a new civic square will be delivered by Willmott Dixon in a phased programme of work through to 2020.

Shawfield Masterplan News
23 Oct – Norr have put forward detailed plans for one of the first plots to be developed under a masterplan by Edinburgh architects 7N for Shawfield on the south bank of the River Clyde.

21st Century Homes Small Sites Programme
20 Oct – Barton Willmore have rounded off a hat-trick of submissions for The City of Edinburgh Council’s 21st Century Homes Small Sites Programme with the pending submission of plans for a four storey infill block and terraced housing at Hailesland Place, Wester Hailes, reports Urban Realm.

Edinburgh Buildings Article
20 Oct – An unusual pairing – Craigentinny Marbles and Scottish Parliament Building – feature in very brief ‘articles’ by architect Adrian Welch, about “less-famous marvels that have yet to step out of the shadow of Britain’s major landmarks”:

Edinburgh Architectural Wonders

“Building Our Islands” – Outer Hebrides’ Favourite Buildings to Mark Festival of Architecture 2016
Boatman's House Stornoway building
Boatman’s House, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis © John Maher
14 Oct – An Lanntair and The Western Isles Architects Group have been celebrating architecture in all its forms in the Outer Hebrides. From modern architecture to 17th Century ruins, the project asked people to take a look at the architecture that surrounds them. Photographer (and former Buzzcocks drummer) John Maher has been documenting the shortlisted buildings and other architectural gems for the project. Over 500 people voted for their favourite building in the islands.

Scotland Policy Conferences Keynote Seminar
The future of housing in Scotland – delivery, demand and the impact of policy

with
Lesley Fraser, Director for Housing, Regeneration and Welfare, The Scottish Government
and
Nicola Barclay, Chief Executive, Homes for Scotland; Kay Blair, Chair, Scottish Housing Regulator; Amanda Britain, Associate Director, Craigforth and Chair, CIH Scotland; Dan Cookson, Head of Research, PRS 4 Scotland; June Gilles, Head of Planning, Davidson Chalmers LLP and David Melhuish, Director, Scottish Property Federation
and
Douglas Cochrane, Lloyds Banking Group; David Goldie, Highland Council; Hew Edgar, RICS; Adam Lang, Shelter Scotland and James Strang, Parkhead Housing Association

Chaired by:
Kate Forbes MSP, Member, Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

@ScotlandPolicy | This seminar is CPD certified

Timing: Morning, Wednesday, 7th December 2016
Venue: Central Edinburgh
Details on our events page

Orkney Hospital Building
Orkney hospital building
image from architect
12 Oct – £60m integrated health facility to be built on the outskirts of Kirkwall secures approval from the Scottish government. The new facility has been designed by Keppie Design to incorporate a number of relocated GP practices as well as a dental surgery.

Hearts Main Stand Approval
Tynecastle Redevelopment New Hearts Stand Building
image from architect
12 Oct – Hearts Football Club has secured consent from the City of Edinburgh Council to rebuild the main stand at Tynecastle Stadium.
Hearts Main Stand

Broad Street Development News
11 Oct – Aberdeen City Council has given the green light to the transformation of Broad Street into a ‘pedestrian priority’ route extending Union Street to the Gallowgate/Upper Kirkgate junction.

Crewe Road Gardens Homes
11 Oct – Barton Willmore has prepared plans for a 26 home development at Crewe Road Gardens, Pilton, as part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s small sites programme.

Clermiston Homes
10 Oct – The City of Edinburgh’s small sites urban infill programme is continuing to bring disused land back into productive use with the submission of plans for 44 homes at Parkgrove Terrace, Clermiston.

Dundee Hilltown
10 Oct – Plans have been brought forward by Collective Architecture, Robertson Partnership Homes and Hillcrest Housing Association on behalf of Dundee City Council to regenerate Derby Street.

Cooper Cromar Practice News
7 Oct – Cooper Cromar announce, as of the 1st September 2016, the successful completion of a Management Buy Out by the existing senior management team of Steven Carroll, Simon Walsh and Graham Forsyth.

RIBA Stirling Prize 2016
7 Oct – No award for the only shortlisted entry from Scotland – Glasgow Riverside Campus building by Edinburgh’s Michael Laird Architects & Reiach and Hall Architects.

DIA Awards
7 Oct – McKenzie Strickland Associates have been recognised by the Dundee Institute of Architects for their Hot Box sauna at Taymouth Marina, after picking up their best commercial project award.

Lochrin Square Office Building
6 Oct – UBS Asset Management is nearing completion of a major refurbishment of Michael Laird Architect’s One Lochrin Square to provide 62,416sq/ft of Grade A office space.

Boroughmuir High School
5 Oct – CALA Homes and Michael Laird Architects have teamed up for a residential conversion of the B listed Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh, together with construction of a new build apartment block.

Build to Rent Housing Funding News
6 Oct – Scotland’s Build to Rent (BTR) sector is today being boosted by the announcement of an extension to funding for the Scottish Government-supported Private Rented Sector (PRS) Champion, tasked with driving forward initiatives which could see a rapid increase in the supply at scale of new purpose-built, professionally-managed, energy-efficient properties to rent across the country.

The funding will see the work of BTR PRS Champion Gerry More, supported by a Working Party of experts, continue for a further 12 months, focusing on how such schemes could be rapidly delivered with the backing of institutional investors, offering tenants improved customer experience and choice. It will also support the launch of a dedicated Build to Rent in Scotland “opportunity” document in early 2017, outlining the potential benefits on offer to investors, local authorities, developers and other associated organisations.

More details on the Glasgow Architecture website’s news page

New Portobello High School Building
5 Oct – new photo of soon-to-complete Portobello High School:

New Portobello High School - Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016

Planning system failing to deliver the homes Scots desperately need, latest statistics show
5 Oct – Responding to the publication of latest Scottish Government statistics showing the time taken to decide major housing developments was almost 18 weeks slower in Q1 2016/17 than the previous quarter, industry body Homes for Scotland’s (HFS) Head of Planning Tammy Adams said:

“These figures show that Scotland’s planning system is becoming less well equipped to deal with applications for major housing developments, which are key to providing the thousands of homes which our growing population desperately needs.

“The delivery of these homes should be seen as a golden thread running through the planning system but, with average decision times slowing to 48.3 weeks (three times the statutory period of 16 weeks), this is simply not the case.

“These statistics confirm the urgent need to ensure the planning system responds effectively to address Scotland’s significant housing shortfall. It must do better to support the Scottish Government’s aspiration to see a significant increase in home building to ensure housing requirements are met across the country – and enable it to meet the First Minister’s ambition of delivering 50,000 new affordable homes over the course of this Parliament.

“HFS is committed to working with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to get to the root cause of the problem and ensure effective solutions are identified and put into practice.”

Contemporary House on the Solway Coast
4 Oct – Taigh Sonas, Kippford, Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland by Simon Winstanley Architects added. This house is sited in a rectangular natural hillside plot accessed off the main road into Kippford on the Solway Coast. Principal views range between the south-west and north-east enjoying a spectacular landscape setting of the River Urr valley and hills beyond.

Pecha Kucha EDI v.35
26 Sep – next session this coming Friday 30 Sep, for tickets follow venue link on website.
Pecha Kucha EDI v.35, 7pm, Fri 30th September 2016 @ the Epworth Hall, 25 Nicolson Square, EDI, EH8 9BX
http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/edinburgh/events/56f67893792d605f01000003

Homeowner Website Launched
26 Sep – Under One Roof, a major new free website – www.underoneroof.scot – designed to help the half million plus private flat owners in Scotland with the complex and important task of carrying out repairs to their shared properties, has recently been launched by Scottish Government Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart MSP at an event in Glasgow.

Written by Annie Flint and John Gilbert, the authors of the acclaimed Tenement Handbook originally published by the RIAS over 20 years ago, the site contains over 100 articles on flat owners’ legal responsibilities towards their co-owners and over 70 technical information articles that enable owners to identify repair problems and understand quotations from builders.

More details on the Glasgow Architecture website news page.

Background:

The Under One Roof Steering Committee and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland wish to thank Glasgow City Council, whose financial contribution and early support and promotion were so vital to this website being developed. Special thanks also go to the Factoring Commission who worked closely with the authors.

Hacking and Paterson’s senior partner, Neil Watt commented;
“Hacking and Paterson is delighted to be associated with this valuable and educational website, the first of its` type. It is a fantastic reference point for anyone owning property, helping them understand what it means to be a responsible homeowner, and guiding them towards others, such as property factors, who can assist them in caring for, and retaining the value of their property”.

Lorraine MacDonald, owner of Speirs Gumley, property managers of the launch venue at 33 Dalintober Street/53 Morrison Street said:
“I am delighted that this beautiful B-listed building has been chosen as the venue for the launch of this vital new website. The restoration of this building is a living example of the best practice that Under One Roof advocates, and shows just what can be achieved when owners, property managers and local authorities pull together – in this case saving this iconic Glasgow building from falling into serious disrepair. I really believe this new website will help make shared repairs and maintenance less daunting for homeowners. As property managers, we’d always advise that prevention is better – and cheaper – than cure.”

Authors and Steering Group

The authors are Annie Flint BSc Housing consultant and researcher; co-author of the Tenement Handbook, Common Repair Common Sense and many other guides for owners, community organisations and professionals.

John Gilbert BSc MSc RIAS DUniv, an RIAS accredited conservation architect. John has 40 years experience of repairing, improving and maintaining tenements and a variety of housing types.

The creation of the site has been driven by a steering committee whose members include funders, technical experts and user representatives. It is chaired by the immediate Past President of the RIAS, Iain Connelly, former Chief Architect of Fife Council. The committee membership is:

• Iain Connelly (Chair), Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• Alasdair Balfour, Royal Institute Chartered Surveyors
• Neil Baxter, Secretary, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• Tony Cain, Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers
• Tessa Clark, Changeworks
• Jocelyn Cunliffe, Conservation Convenor, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• Roger Curtis, Historic Environment Scotland
• Liz Dickson, Scotland’s Housing Network
• Louise Glendinning, Royal Institute Chartered Surveyors
• Eleanor McAllister, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• Alison McDiarmid, Property Managers Association Scotland
• Frank Plowright Glasgow Factoring Commission
• Jackie Reilly, Partick Housing Association
• David Stewart, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Promoter

The new website has been promoted by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) as part of the Festival of Architecture 2016. The RIAS is a registered charity and the professional body for all of Scotland’s chartered architects. It was established to benefit the people of Scotland through its endeavours to improve the built environment.

Sponsors

The site is sponsored by both public and private sector organisations. The wide raft of funding enables the site to remain impartial and independent. While the majority of funding comes from local authorities and the Scottish Government, private and housing association factors (property managers) are also key contributors. The site is supported by:

Local Authorities:
• Argyll and Bute Council
• City of Edinburgh Council
• Clackmannanshire Council
• Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
• Dumfries & Galloway Council
• Dundee City Council
• E. Dunbartonshire Council
• East Ayrshire Council
• East Lothian Council
• East Renfrewshire Council
• Falkirk Council
• Fife Council
• Glasgow City Council
• Inverclyde Council
• Midlothian Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• North Lanarkshire Council
• Orkney Islands Council
• Perth & Kinross Council
• Renfrewshire Council
• Scottish Borders Council
• South Ayrshire Council
• South Lanarkshire Council
• Stirling Council
• The Highland Council
• West Dunbartonshire Council
• West Lothian Council

National and Regional Bodies:
• Glasgow & West of Scotland Housing Association
• Historic Environment Scotland
• Property Managers Association Scotland
• The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
• Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
• Scottish Government

Property Managers:
• Hacking and Paterson Property Managers
• Your Place
• Southside Housing Association
• Spiers Gumley

Key Statistics
There are approximately 600,000 privately owned flats in Scotland, forming almost four in ten of all homes. The majority are in need of repair, many of urgent repair. One third of shared properties have no formal management support. Between one third and a half of pre1919 tenement flats are privately rented. Only one in three flat owners have a maintenance fund for their flat. Only one in three flat owners regularly maintain their roof. Over half of all flat owners only do roof repairs when it’s an emergency.

Edinburgh Architectural Photographers
a rare picture of Parliament Hall Edinburgh interior:
Parliament Hall Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016
photo © Our Dream Photography
24 Sep – Our Dream Photography added to our Edinburgh Photographers page

Scott Monument new LED lighting design and installation by KSLD:
Scott Monument lighting - Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016
photo © Our Dream Photography

Granton Harbour Buildings
Granton Harbour Residential Development - Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016
22 Sep – Hackland + Dore submitted a new planning application earlier this month for an exciting new scheme in Granton, for Port of Leith HA:
Granton Harbour Residential Development

The Glenlivet Distillery Bridge
The Glenlivet Distillery Bridge

21 Sep – The engineers behind the design and build of The Glenlivet Distillery road-bridge in the heart of “Malt Whisky Country” in Speyside, have confirmed that the iconic structure is now ready for crossing.

Robertson Civil Engineering, who delivered the project alongside architects Archial Norr and engineers Blyth&Blyth expressed their delight with the end result.

Tony Fry, managing director of Robertson Civil Engineering said: “The fact that Chivas Brothers wanted something that was ‘old style stone’ has made this particular bridge so unique. It’s not often we’re asked to do bridges like this one, but when we are, it is a real privilege.

The new Glenlivet Distillery Bridge

“Their desire to tie the structure into their brand signifier has made it a very interesting project to work on, and the end result is sure to be admired by visitors to the distillery for many years to come.”

TK Maxx Edinburgh Central Shop
21 Sep – more photos with sunshine taken late yesterday afternoon:

view from north west, showing facades to St Andrew Square (left) and South St David Street (right):
TK Maxx Edinburgh store

view from north, showing facades detail onto St Andrew Square:
TK Maxx Edinburgh store
photos © Adrian Welch

TK Maxx Edinburgh St Andrew Square

Dome Edinburgh
21 Sep – photograph taken late yesterday afternoon from the north of Dome Edinburgh Restaurant:
Dome Edinburgh Restaurant
photo © Adrian Welch

Aberdeen Aquatic Centre Building
20 Sep – The latest phase of a major sports village development has been completed: the £18.2m Aberdeen Sports Village Aquatic Centre. The new Aquatic Centre includes a 10-lane, 50m Olympic standard pool with seating for 600 spectators, and a 25m x 16.5m Olympic standard diving pool.

25 years of Richard Murphy Architects
19 Sep – Murphfest – 1 & 2 October – a celebration of 25 years of Richard Murphy Architects in Practice.

Murphfest includes an afternoon conference in the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street, Edinburgh, a party and an open house afternoon at Richard’s home in 2B Hart Street.

The party and open house are by invitation only, but the conference is available by applying for a ticket in advance by emailing kj(at)richardmurphyarchitects.com

Disappointing news on housing as supply slips down
13 Sep – On the day MSPs were debating levels of investment for more homes, new official statistics revealed a two per cent decrease in the number of new homes completed in Scotland for 2015-16.

Responding, Karen Campbell, Director of Policy at industry body Homes for Scotland said:
“On this important day of discussion on our country’s housing crisis, the Scottish Government has pointed to the ‘stability’ in new supply when figures actually show a decline.

“The simple fact is that whilst Scotland’s population has increased to its highest ever level, the supply of housing continues to lag ever further behind.

“This is hugely disappointing news for all those looking for a new home and will place further pressure on rents and house prices as demand continues to grow.

“We want to see a return to pre-recession levels of building around 25,000 new homes a year by the end of this parliament which requires a year-on-year increase of at least ten per cent. We all have a valuable part to play in achieving this if we are to meet the diverse needs, aspirations and life journeys of all those living in Scotland.”

HLM at BIM conference in Edinburgh
12 Sep – Paul Tunstall, associate at architectural practice HLM joins a panel of industry experts, architects and technology leaders at the BIM in Scotland conference in Edinburgh this month to illustrate how BIM theory can give competitive advantages to companies in Scotland.

Pecha Kucha Edinburgh
Pecha Kucha Edinburgh 2016
Next session is Friday 30th Sept at the Epworth Hall, 25 Nicolson Square.
http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/edinburgh/events/56f67893792d605f01000003

Oriam at Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Campus
Oriam Heriot-Watt
photo © Adrian Welch
e-architect’s Isabelle Lomholt and Adrian Welch attended an opening event yesterday evening at Reiach and Hall Architects’ latest building, Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre with speeches and a tour: building photos now online.

An Lòchran Enterprise & Research Centre Building
An Lòchran Enterprise & Research Centre Building
9 Sep – An Lòchran Enterprise & Research Centre has completed on the Inverness Campus.
The building design is by Sheppard Robson Architects, based in Glasgow.
The office, academic, business and research hub is intended to encourage collaboration.
It is for the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
The Inverness Campus opened in May 2015. Occupants include Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scotland’s Rural College which offers research and consultancy services.

New Brunstane.Development
9 Sep – Planning submission to build more than 1,300 homes over a 48-hectare site known as New Brunstane.
The residential development will be on greenbelt land separating Edinburgh from Musselburgh.
Developer EDI Group has lodged an application for Planning Permission in Principle to construct 1,330 houses, a school and leisure facilities. A ‘parkland’ setting means 23% of the land area will be green spaces.
The application is one of the key Local Development Plan (LDP) sites defined by the council and the Scottish Government.
A Proposal of Application Notice was issued back in December 2015.
EDI Group is an arms-length company of the City of Edinburgh Council and has helped develop areas such as Edinburgh Park.

West Dunbartonshire Council Office Building News
West Dunbartonshire Council Office Building
9 Sep – Work has started work on the £15.4 m West Dunbartonshire Council offices in Dumbarton.
The design by Keppie retains the A-listed facade of the historic building. New offices will be constructed by contractor Lend Lease at the rear.
Around 500 staff based at Garshake will be relocated to the offices.
The facility will include a public area with multi-use civic space, training and meeting rooms with a substantial new building to the rear containing office space.
The former Dumbarton Academy building is located in Church Street.
hub West Scotland are due to complete the works in late 2017.
The council secured a £500,000 grant to help pay for the restoration and discussions are ongoing with Historic Environment Scotland over this element of the project.

Edinburgh Development Plans 2016 Event
29 Sep – five of Edinburgh’s leading development figures will be presenting their investment/development plans for the next few years:

– Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive at City of Edinburgh Council
– Eric Adair, Operations & Finance Director at The EDI Group
– Jestyn Davies, Managing Director at Murray Estates
– Alex Muirhead, Development Director at Ecosse Regeneration and
– David Peck, Managing Director at Buccleuch Property

see our events page for details.

BIM in Scotland Conference
Wednesday 21 Sep 9:30am – 4:00pm at the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian

With the aim of the Scottish Government to adopt a BIM Level 2 approach across public sector projects in Scotland by April 2017, hear the latest from industry experts, architects and technology leaders. They aim to explain what implementing BIM has done to help drive their businesses forward.

This is a free event on BIM.

See the Edinburgh Events page for more details.

Queensferry Crossing News
8 Sep – The Queensferry Crossing is on target to be opened by May 2017 and remains within its £1.35 billion budget.

Project director David Climie warned MSPs that bad weather could still make it “challenging” to hit the target and accepted there were “certain circumstances where it could be after May” though he added that “everything that can safely be done is being done”.

The contract for completion of the bridge runs until June 2017. It was originally hoped the crossing could open by December 2016 but this deadline was revised when high winds forced work to stop for 25 days in April and May.

East Lothian Council Proposed Local Development Plan
8 Sep – East Lothian Council has approved a plan which sets out how it will deliver over 10,000 new homes in the next 10 years.

The finalised Proposed Local Development Plan (LDP), approved by councillors this week, sets out the council’s planning strategy, sites and policies to guide and manage future development within the county.

In November 2015, councillors considered the draft Proposed LDP and approved it subject to the following amendments including plans to release sites to allow for the construction of hundreds of affordable homes.

Amendments included:

– removal of the proposal for 1,000 homes at the Goshen Farm site, plus corresponding secondary education proposal on this site;
– allocation of Dolphingstone as an allocated site for 600 houses;
– allocation of Howemire, Wallyford for 100 homes;
– allocation of land at Craighall for mixed use development;
– allocation of Dolphingstone North, Prestonpans for up to 160 homes;
– removal of safeguarded land at Longniddry South; and
– consideration of sites in the North Berwick area for employment use allocations

The LDP will be published for representations from interested parties from 19 Sep to 31 Oct.

http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/204/local_development_plan/1769/local_development_plan

Photos of Key Edinburgh Buildings
8 + 7 Sep – Parliament Square arcade:
Parliament Square Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016 arcade

Radisson Edinburgh hotel interior space:
Radisson Edinburgh hotel interior space

TK Maxx store, opened in August, the largest retail opening in the city centre since 2011:
TK Maxx Edinburgh shop
TK Maxx Edinburgh store

City Chambers building and war memorial:
City Chambers Edinburgh war memorial
City Chambers Edinburgh Building

Advocate’s Close buildings:
Advocate's Close Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016
Advocate’s Close Edinburgh Building

St Giles’ Cathedral Edinburgh Building

Schools for the Future programme
6 Sep – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the site of the new Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh today to highlight a record year for the Scottish Government’s Schools for the Future building programme.
The £1.8 billion programme will involve 112 schools being rebuilt or refurbished by 2020.
Ms Sturgeon said that twenty nine newly built or refurbished school buildings will open to pupils during this academic year, the highest number of school buildings to open in any one year since the programme began in 2009.
The announcement comes on the same day the First Minister unveils her 2016/17 Programme for Government later at Holyrood.

Scottish Borders Design Awards
6 Sep – A new sports hall in Peebles and the conversion of a cottage in Gattonside were among the winners at this year’s Scottish Borders Design Awards.

Announced at a ceremony held at Scottish Borders Council headquarters yesterday, the award scheme was first established in 1984 and runs every two years. This year the awards scheme is part of the national Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

Organised by the council’s planning and regulatory service, the purpose of the scheme is to recognise examples of good building design, educate and inspire all those involved in new developments and raise the overall standard of building design.

Scottish Borders Design Awards 2016 Winners:

Design Award for New Build (Residential): The Wave, Kirkton Manor – Commendations: Little Lindisfarne, Hawick; Maple Tree House, Darnick
Design Award for New Build (Commercial): New sports hall, Peebles High School.
Design Award for Works to an Existing Building: Blakeburn by Gattonside – Commendation: Born in the Borders, Lanton Mill
Design Award for Placemaking: Leet Haugh, Coldstream – Commendation: Old School Place, Lauder
Special Award for Conservation and Design: Marchmont House, near Polwarth

Councillor Ron Smith, SBC’s executive member for planning and environment and chair of the planning and building standards committee, said: “Once again the entries for these awards have highlighted the high quality of building design right across the Scottish Borders.

“The judges have had a difficult task in selecting winners from the large number of entries. Hopefully the winning and commended designs, which are innovative, contemporary and forward thinking, will inspire future projects in the region and beyond.”

A total of 30 entries were received across the various categories. The independent judging panel was chaired by Andy Millar, former SBC built and natural heritage manager, from Peebles, with David Suttie representing the Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland (RTPI) and Iain Connelly representing the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

Mr Millar said: “We shortlisted then visited 13 entries. Many thanks to all entrants and especially to those we met on the visits. These two days were rewarding and inspiring and the panel is pleased to announce the five awards and four commendations.”

Homes for Scotland News
5 Sep – Home builders respond to approval of Edinburgh Local Development Plan

Responding to today’s approval by councillors of Edinburgh’s Local Development Plan, Tammy Adams, Head of Planning at industry body Homes for Scotland, said:

“Whilst this morning’s meeting represents six difficult years of plan-making for our capital city, the unfortunate fact remains that the sites that have been allocated will not deliver the number of new homes that are needed quickly enough. This has obvious social and economic implications for our capital city and suggests a continuation of the ‘planning by appeal’ that has caused unrest in recent months.

“With the council now having an additional year to produce improved statutory guidance on infrastructure, we are concerned that this could lead to a further vacuum during which any new sites are refused as a matter of principle – rather than being welcomed as a way of better meeting housing need.

“Critically, however, with a national planning review underway, there are important lessons to be learnt from Edinburgh’s experience – not least the need to identify and resolve major problems, such as the failure to fully plan for new homes and infrastructure, much earlier in the process. Otherwise it is not entirely unreasonable for people to ask ‘why plan at all?’.”

Scottish National Gallery Building Renewal
Scottish National Gallery Building Renewal - Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016
1 Sep – Work on a £16.8 m extension to the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh started this week after the City of Edinburgh Council formally approved the planning applications.

The planned redevelopment of the Scottish National Gallery, will triple the exhibition space available to the Scottish collection from 440m to 1320m, vastly improve visitor access and circulation throughout the SNG complex, and create a more sympathetic setting and entrance for the SNG within East Princes St Gardens.

Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice
1 Sep – The new Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, is to start on site on 12 September. It is designed by Ryder Architecture. The facility employs the Sengetun model of care which places the needs of patients and their families first. Completion is due by 2018.

Comments for this Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016 post are welcome.

Scottish Capital Properties

Significant Edinburgh Property – Selection:

Edinburgh Buildings – July to August 2016

Edinburgh Building News Spring 2016 – May to June 2016

Edinburgh Architecture News 2016 – Archive for the early part of the year

Edinburgh Architecture News 2015 – Archive

Comments for the Edinburgh Building News Autumn 2016 page welcome