February 28 2025

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has shortlisted 21 projects for its 2025 awards programme.

Among this year's contenders are a prison, castle and two distilleries, each of which will battle it out for recognition at an awards ceremony at the end of May.

RIAS chief executive Tamsie Thomson said: “Year on year, we strive to encourage entries from all corners of Scotland, and these 21 projects offer a fantastic representation of exceptional design thinking in rural and urban settings. The strength of this shortlist is the diversity of project types, which provide people from all walks of life with high-quality, sustainable, and innovative architecture for working, learning, and living."

The 2025 RIAS Awards jury comprises architects Ann Nisbet, Jessam Al-Jawad and Craig Hamilton together with Caroline Grewar, programme director at V&A Dundee.

Last year saw 11 buildings named amongst the best in Scotland.

Main image: Adam Smith Building, University of Glasgow - Hassell © Hufton + Crow

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Lovely on 28 Feb 2025 at 09:20 AM

It has to be said there are some really nice projects here, all a bit small and retrograde but why not in a retrograde era? Especially given that the big new build projects are mostly quite terrible these days...

#2 Posted by Spike on 28 Feb 2025 at 10:37 AM

Disappointing that no buildings from Glasgow up to the quality that allows this consideration!

#3 Posted by Angus Og on 28 Feb 2025 at 11:22 AM

Caochan na Creige - Izat Arundell. 'The house sleeps two and rents for £2,000 per week—this summer only...'
I have to say I was struck by the sheer banality of the kitchen wall shelving before i was overcome by the tidal wave of knotted pine. Still, it was all carried out in the best possible taste I'm sure. Memo to self - must submit my garden shed next year for this palaver, but then again, I just might not have the right social pedigree.

#4 Posted by Go Sugna on 28 Feb 2025 at 14:59 PM

The image of the kitchen shared is hardly the only interesting or quality part of the design. If you're interested enough to comment and call it a garden shed then I'd suggest actually looking at the building to see if your criticism stands up to reality.

As you're too lazy, I'll save you the Google: https://izatarundell.com/Project-Caochan-na-Creige

#5 Posted by Neil McAllister on 28 Feb 2025 at 17:07 PM

A really interestingly diverse shortlist. Some years it seems that everything is all of one type or style whereas this seems to have a broad range.

Also, #2, the Adam Smith building is in Glasgow.

#6 Posted by Angus Ogee on 1 Mar 2025 at 09:42 AM

4. Thanks for the link to the WWII coastal defence bunker. I can only think that the artifice of aesthetics of Caochan na Creige must be a generational as well as an 'architectural' kinda thang.

#7 Posted by Mark on 2 Mar 2025 at 09:20 AM

Agree with all above, it’s great to see such a varied list that covers different scales, functions and locations.

Disappointing that the Izatt Arundell house appears to be a holiday let? I’m sure the last thing the Hebrides needs are more AirBnB’s and suchlike for the privileged few, when there’s such a shortage of affordable housing in the Highlands.

#8 Posted by Gordon on 3 Mar 2025 at 15:36 PM

Union Terrace Gardens; surely it should be LDA up for the award, with some support from SB?

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