Richard Murphy Architects Selected For £8m Rebuilding Of Perth Theatre

We are delighted to announce a major new cultural project. Selected by competitive interview organised by the RIAS and beating off some fierce competition from both north and south of the border, the project envisages a major refurbishment of the historic auditorium of Perth Theatre and the potential rebuilding of foyer and studio theatre. The project is anticipated to be submitted for heritage lottery funding in March 2009.

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Edinburgh Academy Nursery School Completed

We are delighted to have completed a new nursery for Edinburgh Academy at their Arboretum Road campus. The building was constructed in the remarkably short period of seven months and houses 90 children in four classes. The two storey building houses an after-school club upstairs. The contractor was Dunne Group Limited. Richard was also honoured to be asked to open the Annual End of Year Art Exhibition at the Senior School at the end of their Summer term.

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Tenants Move Into Our Housing At Moore Street, Glasgow

We are delighted that our project for both our own housing and that of our colleagues working to our master-plan has been completed for Molendinar Park Housing Association. Our own scheme places all twenty two flats around a south facing communal courtyard with flats accessed by external staircases and terraces. Pictures of the completed project have been posted on the project website. The entire project will be opened by the Deputy First Minister for Scotland and Minister for Health & Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, on 19 November.

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First Minister Breaks The Turf At Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen

Meanwhile, the First Minister for Scotland, Alex Salmond, ‘broke the turf’ at our site for the £43m development at Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen for Hazledene Group Ltd. New images and updated drawings have been posted on the project website. The scheme, being built by Miller Construction, is due to be completed by spring 2010. At the ceremony Mr Salmond said it was a “tremendously exciting development - it is a significant investment which shows that the Hazledene Group recognise Scotland’s potential for sustainable economic development.” Mr. Salmond is pictured at the wheel.

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Work Begins On Our First Senile Dementia Residential Centre At Stratheden, Fife

...While the second centre adjacent is submitted for planning permission.

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Drawings Published of Warwick University Student Residences Competition

We were narrowly unsuccessful with our competition for undergraduate residences at Warwick University. A new webpage describes our design and all six competing designs will be on exhibition, together with other RIBA Competition housing designs at the Cube Architecture Gallery in Manchester from 17 October 2008 - 20 December 2008. (www.cube.org.uk)

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House For Richard Murphy In Hart Street

And in an almost unprecedented move, Councillors on Edinburgh Planning Committee voted by 9 votes to 4 to overturn a recommendation of refusal of planning permission for Richard’s own proposed house in Hart Street. Afterwards, Richard commented, ”I am absolutely delighted and amazed. It is incredibly rare that a recommendation for refusal is overturned, and overturned so convincingly. This decision underlines that Edinburgh Councillors (although maybe not on this occasion their planning officials) take a progressive attitude towards the continuing enhancement of the World Heritage site with high quality sensitive contemporary design. I hope the design will also become something of a leader in intelligent energy design.” The project is expected to be on site by next summer, client permitting.

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Practice Selected For Two Shortlists

In Aberdeen, where a substantial refurbishment is proposed for the city's Art Gallery, and in Limerick in the Republic of Ireland, where a major housing and regeneration programme is envisaged.

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Other News

Richard lectured to the European Students of Architectuer at the Annual European Architecture Students' Assembly this year held at Letterfrack, in Co Galway, Ireland. The very first EASA was organised by Richard and fellow RIBA student representative Geoff Haslam in Liverpool in 1981 and Richard expressed amazement that the organisation was both still going and growing in popularity. Over 450 students from Azerbijan to Iceland were present and they equally expressed astonishment at how the first1981Assembly happened before email and fax!

We were delighted that Richard was included in the shortlisting jury for this year's Stirling Prize, with the winner due to be announced on Saturday 11 October in Liverpool. The event will be broadcast live on Channel 4.

The practice opened its doors on Saturday 27 September to almost 200 visitors on the annual Cockburn Association Doors Open Day. Models, films and drawings of projects were on display as well as the building itself, of course.

Richard has accepted an invitation to participate in an International Master-class in Cuba next May. This is being co-ordinated by the Norwegian Architects’ Association to examine future possibilities for the Port of Havana.

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Forthcoming Lectures

Richard is give the first lecture to the Dundee College of Art on Tuesday 7 October at 6.00 pm as part of their Dundee Conservation Lecture Series; to “Thrive for Business” at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh at 12.00 noon on Thursday 9 October; to the Edinburgh College of Art (Archie Series of Lectures) on Friday 10 October; and, to staff and students at the Mackintosh School of Architecture (Friday Lecture Series) on Friday 17 October at 3.00 pm.

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And Finally...

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The Practice Turns Seventeen

Our practice birthday party was held on 3 October at our recently completed Liberton Bank "Conan Doyle" Medical Centre. Many thanks to all our clients and friends who joined us and also to the staff of the centre who lent us their building.

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