November 5 2024

Dualchas Architects have made their mark at the Highlands and Islands Architecture Association (HIAA) Awards after celebrating a double win.

The Skye-based practice was one of the big winners on the night alongside Eilidh Izat and Jack Arundell, who walked off as the best-in-show winners for Caochan na Creige - hand built by Jack Arundell and Alasdair Izat.

That win pushed Dualchas into second place for The Highland Cinema, which earned a commendation in the best-in-show category. Nevertheless the practice still had plenty to celebrate as winners of the top prize for placemaking.

Dualchas director Rory Flyn, commented: “It was always a shame that Cameron Square, where the town hall used to stand, had become a largely redundant space. There was also a lack of indoor recreation within the heart of the town where people could take shelter from the rain and give locals and tourists more to do in the evenings. Angus MacDonald, our client, wanted us to design a building which addressed these issues and gave Fort William a central square of which the community could be proud.”

Dualchas architects Neil and Laura Stephen also earned a commendation for another self built home at Achnacloich, Skye, which has already seen locals flocking to pay a visit. Neil said: "Laura was definitely my most difficult client, and I was undoubtedly hers, but we got there in the end!”

The awards in full:

New Building

• Caochan na Creige by Eilidh Izat and Jack Arundell, winner
• Taigh Crèadha, private residence by Dualchas, commended

New life for existing buildings

• Strathnaver Museum Restoration & Annex, Oberlanders, winner
• North Uist Distillery, Studio Hebrides, commended

Place-making

• Highland Cinema, Dualchas, winner
• Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Threesixty, commended

Smaller project

• North Roe Kirk, Née Gibson Architects, winner
• Tulach Ard Byre, TAMA Studio, commended

Social benefit

• National Treatment Centre, Oberlanders, winner
• The Victorian Market, Threesixty, commended

Client of the year

• The Haven Centre, Colin Armstrong, winner
• Darklass, Coast to Coast, commended

Best use of timber

• Horisary House and Sauna, Fraser Architecture, winner
• An Office and Two Houses, Loader Monteith, commended

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