Projects in Helensburgh and on Loch Lomondside have been shortlisted in the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland’s 2016 awards.
The public realm area in Helensburgh’s Colquhoun Square was designed by Austin-Smith:Lord LLP as part of the £7m CHORD regeneration of the town centre.
It is joined in the 23 shortlisted projects by the Pyramid viewpoint, overlooking Loch Lomond at Inveruglas and designed by BTE Architecture.
The shortlisting announcement says of the Helensburgh development, hailed as Scotland’s first outdoor museum: “The design ethos was to create a town centre with attractive, usable and flexible public spaces to support community events, festivals and markets.
“The walkways, soft landscaped areas, tree lines and lighting columns are set out on a simple grid, which enhances and frames the several high-quality, listed buildings within Colquhoun Square.”
The Inveruglas viewpoint has already found a place in one of Scotland’s scenic routes.
The judges say: “This peninsula viewpoint overlooking Loch Lomond, taking the shape of a triangular platform at the end of a long, curved path is first seen as a narrow, vertical stack amongst the trees.
“Only a glimpse of the loch is visible through a long tunnel, marking the entrance.”
Willie Watt, President of the RIAS, said: “It seems appropriate, in this RIAS Centenary year, that we have such a strong and diverse shortlist.
“While fees and procurement continue to challenge all of us our awards celebrate the very best that is being built in Scotland. This is a tremendous list which goes in scale from a small house extension/reconfiguration to major education provision.
“Geographically although, unusually, there are no island visits, we will travel from a factory in Dumfriesshire to a lookout tower in Sutherland.
“This is a list that fully demonstrates the privilege of living in our magnificent wee country and just how architects have embraced the responsibility that brings with it.”
The judging panel for this year, chaired by Willie Watt PRIAS, also includes Denise Bennetts FRIAS (representing the Royal Institute of British Architects), Alan Jones PPRSUA Hon FRIAS, Andy Leitch (Forestry Commission Scotland) and Stuart McKill (Saint-Gobain).
The winning schemes will go on to be eligible for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award and the RIBA Stirling Prize.
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