October 29 2024

Long-held ambitions to revitalise Hawick High School have taken concrete form with the reveal of a new campus designed by Stallan-Brand on behalf of the Scottish Borders Council.

Sweeping changes to the edge of centre site will see the unlisted school buildings demolished amidst fears of adding to the heritage load posed by derelict and dilapidated buildings. Instead they are to be replaced by a large entrance plaza leading to a new campus pushed to the western edge, incorporating salvaged elements of the old school.

The new campus rises from its surroundings on a masonry plinth, elevating sensitive facilities above ground to minimise flood risk. These areas will be faced in lighter stone cladding spanning all four elevations, broken by glazed accent features highlighting interior activity.

Embodying a 'woven plan' that draws inspiration from Hawick's textile heritage this elongated new school will deliver a sequence of interconnected spaces arranged on a simple grid, with long elevations presented to playing fields and gardens to preserve wide views of the River Teviot.

In a concept statement, the architects wrote: "We envision the new Hawick High School plan as a ‘woven plan’ — a series of interconnected spaces arranged in a regular pattern to allow for new and dynamic spatial relationships, as well as intuitive and stimulating circulation areas that connect the entire campus.

"The use of a grid as the plan’s foundation allows for a push-pull of programmatic elements, allowing courtyards to be created to drive light deep into the building plan while also facilitating sheltered external play and learning spaces."

A landscape plan by Oobe will be delivered in tandem, helping to knit together distant hill views with the immediate environment of the town centre.   

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 30 Oct 2024 at 10:52 AM

Really poor design -- forced well beyond any level of style or consistency.

Plus you have the continuing fiction that it does not rain in Scotland -- winter-garden / rain screen to allow outdoor activities with our weather.

#2 Posted by Get Some Exercise on 31 Oct 2024 at 08:34 AM

#1 care to share anything you've designed recently?

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 31 Oct 2024 at 14:19 PM

#2 -- well I can assure you that Fido's breakfast had a much more assured and sophisticated design vibe than the building above.

Any toddler with lego would be an improvement on what Stallan-Brand are offering -- random shapes / random patterns / random colours.

Just one big mess that offers nothing to its setting or the town in general.

#4 Posted by Fido Dido on 31 Oct 2024 at 15:08 PM

#1 and #2 – I happen to love scrambled eggs for breakfast!!!

Post your comments