SBC Design Award Scheme 2009 Results

Scottish Borders Council Design Award Scheme 2009

RESULTS

Scottish Borders Council hosted a double Design Event on Tuesday 26 January, celebrating good quality buildings and places throughout the region.

The afternoon combined two events that sought to actively promote and enhance the quality of the Scottish Borders built environment: the Scottish Borders Council Design Award Scheme and the launch of new guidance on Placemaking and Design.

Winners at the 2010 Awards Ceremony included: The Dawyck Gateway at Dawyck Botanic Gardens; Todlaw Supporter Housing in Duns; Denholm Primary School; and Garden House, Humehall Holdings in Hume (see below for more details).

The biennial scheme seeks to recognise and publicise examples of good building design in the Scottish Borders. Submissions were invited in four categories: New Build, New Build (more that five units), Works to an Existing Building, and Sustainable Design. Projects that had been completed between 1 January 2007 and 30 September 2009 were eligible. The scheme attracted 28 entries.

The Council also launched its Supplementary Planning Guidance on Placemaking & Design. The document sets out clear design objectives that new developments must strive to achieve to ensure that the Scottish Borders remains a quality place in which to live, work or visit. The guidance is aimed at everyone involved in Placemaking and Design throughout the Borders, including residents, developers, planning officers and elected members.

Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre, Executive Member for Planning and Environment said: “Scottish Borders Council is deeply committed ‘to defending the character of the Borders by raising standards of building design, and this includes renewable requirements’ as we have set out in this Council Administration's manifesto for the Borders.

“This new guidance on planning and design has been created to give us a strong tool to guide and promote the development of attractive neighbourhoods and buildings which will give us places that respect the distinctive Borders character. We have a priceless landscape here. What is built here must add to its beauty, not merely exploit it. We do not want to have any more mediocre buildings.

“The guide is based on the quality standards for new developments as set out in the Scottish Borders Council Local Plan. Nationally, there is increasing awareness of the importance of well-designed places to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of communities. We have a precious trust to hand on a preserved and enhanced Borders to those who come after us. This Supplementary Planning Guidance spells out our firm commitment to that.”

While the Council organises and promotes the Design Award Scheme, the judging is undertaken by an independent panel. Judging was conducted by the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), with additional support this year from the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA). Their representatives formed the assessment panel: David Suttie (RTPI); Arnie Dunn (RIAS); Jim Johnson (SEDA) under the chairmanship of Trevor Burrows, who also acted as the local lay representative.

Results in the Scottish Borders Council Design Award Scheme were:

New Build Category

Design Award – Dawyck Visitor Centre, Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo

Designer: Simpson & Brown Architects, Edinburgh

Client: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Contractor: Border Construction Ltd, Carlisle

The judges commented:

“A simple and elegant contemporary design with an excellent quality of construction. The project illustrates how modern materials can be used to maximise the connection between building and the beautiful landscape”.

Commendation – Community College, Hawick

Designer: Archial Architects, Glasgow

Client: Borders College

Contractor: Kier Northern, Co. Durham

The judges commented:

“A striking new landmark building, with a well composed elevation, providing the approaches to Hawick with a positive gateway building”.

New Build, 5+ Units

Design Award – Todlaw Supported Housing, Duns

Designer: Oliver Chapman Architects, Edinburgh

Client: Berwickshire Housing Association

Contractor: James Swinton Ltd, Hawick

The judges commented:

“A highly innovative use of space and materials provide a new place of distinct character”.

Commendation – Wyndhead Farm, Lauder

Designer: WYG Planning and Design (incorporating Farningham McCreadie)

Client / Developer: Laggan Homes

Contractor: Laggan Homes

The judges commented:

“A modern development incorporating some existing listed buildings, but with good detailing and layout creating a sense of place”

Works to Existing Building

Commendation – Hillview, Fisher’s Brae

Designer: Matson Henderson Architects

Client: Mr & Mrs F Dall

Contractor: Stephen Todd Builders, Eyemouth

The judges commented:

“An interesting extension to an existing building; the rear garden elevation works particularly well with some interesting spaces developed from a simple extension project”

Sustainable Design

Design Award – Denholm Primary School, Denholm

Designer: Architects Section, Scottish Borders Council; Project architect: Ray Cherry

Client: Scottish Borders Council

Contractor: Borders Construction Ltd, Earlston

The judges commented:

“Taking the opportunity to replace the former school building, destroyed by fire, the new building provides a well thought-out modern school which has a sustainability ethos embedded into the design rather than being an after thought. The use of the topography of the site has been well used – particularly at the rear to create the amphitheatre area”

Design Award – Garden House, Humehall Holdings, Hume

Designer: Icosis Architects, Edinburgh

Client: Mr and Mrs M Worrall

Contractor: Self build project

(Timber frame supplied by Lindisfarne Timber Frame, Ashington

The judges commented:

“A simple timber clad form which sits well in the landscape; this could be a prototype for future sustainable building in the Borders”

Further Information

Heritage & Design Team

Planning & Economic Development

Council HQ

Newtown St Boswells

MELROSE

TD6 0SA

Tel: 01835 825060 ext. 5697/ 6563

Fax: 01835 825158