News of Existing Projects
Our project for a new GP Group Practice at Liberton in Edinburgh (illustrated) is now half way through construction. The steel frame is completed and work has begun on masonry.
Our two new buildings for the University of East London: a Computer Library/400 seat Lecture Theatre and a Faculty of Education have both gone out to tender with a projected start on site in May.
Our housing for Molendinar Park Housing Association at Melbourne Street in Glasgow starts on site in February with an anticipated completion date, for our own project and our three fellow architects on site, in the Summer of 2008. The contractor is Campbells of Glasgow.
Selection for Two Competitions
We are pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for two major competitions.
The first, for a Visitor Centre for Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire has already been submitted (and indeed partially published in the Architects’ Journal). The competition rules dictate that designs, at this stage, are anonymous, but we will be able to publish the drawings in the next newsletter. We were the only practice from Scotland selected for this competition, administered by the RIBA. A result is expected in February.
The second competition is a return to Jesus College, Cambridge, where we were almost successful nine years ago in a limited competition for student residences, (see previous competition). The new project is much more extensive and includes a Music Auditorium, 70 bedroom Hotel, Sports Centre and Research Institute, all to be placed within College grounds. Four architects have been shortlisted, including ourselves. The project will be submitted at the beginning of February and a result known early in March.
Three New Educational Clients
Dundee University have commissioned us to design a Postgraduate Centre for the Department of Mineral Law, adjacent to their existing Carnegie Building. The project envisages accommodation of postgraduate and masters students and social and seminar spaces.
Perth College have asked us to produce a masterplan and vision for their existing campus.
Finally, Edinburgh Academy have similarly asked us to masterplan the future of both their campuses in Edinburgh.
Award
We were delighted to have won the Daily Telegraph Best Residential Building 2006 for our new house project for Neil and Marion Thomson at Pentland Avenue, Edinburgh. The announcement was published in The Daily Telegraph on the 25 November 2006 and in the January 2007 issue of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine.
Other News
The practice went to Budapest on an expedition and for Christmas Dinner. (The Hungarian Licenced Trade Association has experienced a mini boom as a result). On the way, as a result of a prolonged connection at Luton Airport, we were able to visit the famous three houses (illustrated) at Turnend in Haddenham designed by Peter Aldington, of which Richard is a Trustee. Thanks to Peter and Margaret Aldington for allowing their house to be invaded.
Richard has been appointed a Judge of a competition being held by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland for a major new library in Dun Laoghaire Library Competition.
Lectures
2006 being the centenary of the birth of Carlo Scarpa, there has been a demand for a number of lectures by Richard - twice in Venice, once in Budapest and more locally at his alma mater at Newcastle University. He has also lectured on the work of the practice at Glasgow and Edinburgh Schools of Art and will be lecturing in 2007 at Cardiff University and in the Autumn at the Sir John Soane Museum to the Friends of the Museum.
Press
The new house at Pentland Avenue has featured extensively in the press recently in both The Daily Telegraph on the 25 November 2006 and the January 2007 issue of Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine.
Our major project at Haymarket, Edinburgh has also featured prominently in The Scotsman on the 21 & 25 October 2006 aswell as in The Evening News on the 20 October 2006.
We were also delighted to see that Professor Michael Thorne, Vice Chancellor of the University of East London was included in the RIBA Journal November 2006 Edition “Top 50 Clients” with a photograph of our recently completed Department of Podiatry there.
and Finally……………
The office was thrilled to learn that Richard was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for Services to Architecture.
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