THE restoration of a former farm steading in the foothills of the Lammermuirs has picked up a national award.
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) revealed seven winners of the 2023 RIAS Awards today (Thursday).
Winners came from throughout Scotland, ranging from the Isle of Skye and Argyll and Bute to Stirling and St Andrews.
Among those recognised was Papple Steading, near Garvald, in a project designed by cameronwebster architects with Ian Parsons Architect.
Tamsie Thomson, chief executive at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, congratulated the winners. She said: “The winners demonstrate that architecture in Scotland continues to have the power to delight and inspire.
“Great architecture happens when architects and clients can come together with a clear focus on collaboration and quality.
“This year’s winners show that regardless of setting, scale and budget, it is careful procurement and partnership that creates buildings that are truly special.”
The steading renovation was completed in 2021 and has since enjoyed use as a corporate and holiday retreat set in landscaped grounds and woods. The accommodation featured in a national newspaper’s list of the “most stylish” in Scotland.
In summing up Papple Steading and what made it special, RIAS said: “Papple Steading, originally built in the 19th century to house cattle, store grain and machinery, and provide farm workshops, is one of the largest steadings in East Lothian.
“It had lain underused and derelict for years, until client George Mackintosh set about creating a museum to celebrate an agricultural way of life that is fast disappearing.
“The first completed phase sees the restoration and conversion of the original farmhouse and outbuildings into self-catering accommodation, in order to create income to support the museum’s creation.
“The extensive conservation project has carefully retained, repaired and upgraded the historic range of buildings, preserving the character of the steading and making best use of its historic fabric to secure its long-term future.”
The RIAS Awards are Scotland’s national architecture awards. Buildings are assessed by an expert jury who visit each project and consider the buildings’ architectural integrity, usability and context, delivery and execution, and sustainability. The winners will now become the ‘longlist’ for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award – one of the most significant architecture prizes in the world.
The shortlist will be announced next month ahead of the winner announcement in November.
Recipients of the 2023 RIAS Awards are also eligible for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National Awards.
The jury for the 2023 RIAS awards was made up of Ben Addy (founding director of Moxon Architects), Denise Bennetts (co-founder, Bennetts Associates), Sarah Castle (co-founding director, IF_DO) and Elly McCrone (director of heritage, Historic Environment Scotland).
The other RIAS Award winners were: Campus Central, University of Stirling, by Page\Park Architects; Cuddymoss, North Ayrshire, by Ann Nisbet Studio; Half of Eleven, Isle of Skye, by Dualchas Architects; Hundred Acre Wood, Argyll and Bute, by Denizen Works; Laidlaw Music Centre, University of St Andrews, by Flanagan Lawrence; and Pilmour House, St Andrews, by Nicoll Russell Studios.
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