RIAS announce 2010 Doolan prize shortlist
November 2 2010
The winner will be decided by a panel chaired by Professor Andy MacMillan and including RIAS president David Dunbar, architect Edgar Gonzalez and lighting designer Jonathan Speirs.
Their verdict, and a £25k cheque, will be delivered at a special presentation at the Scottish Parliament on November 19.
Gonzalez commented; “This year’s shortlist exemplifies the immensely strong architectural culture of contemporary Scotland. The rigour of all these buildings is allied to a great care for their users, responsiveness to context and a real delight in the potential of architecture to enhance environments - and people’s lives.”
Shortlisted projects are listed alphabetically below:
The Briggait Redevelopment, Glasgow, Nicoll Russell Studios
15 Fiscavaig, Skye Rural Design
The Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness, The Pollock Hammond Partnership
House on a Hill, Aberdeenshire, Paterson Architects
John Hope Gateway, Edinburgh, Edward Cullinan Architects
McManus Galleries, Dundee, Page \ Park Architects
Medical & Biological Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, Reiach and Hall
Raasay Community Hall, Dualchas Building Design
Shettleston Housing Association Offices, Glasgow,Elder and Cannon Architects
Tigh Na Cladach (House by the Shore), Dunoon Gokay Devici Chartered Architect
The West Centre, Glasgow, anderson bell + christie
18 Comments
#1 Posted by Rob on 3 Nov 2010 at 11:10 AM
What a sad indictment of contemporary Scottish architecture. There are quite a few projects present which in no way merit being put on this pedestal and undermine what the award is supposed to represent. Could they not just have made the shortlist shorter, there are 4 or 5 decent projects at most.
#2 Posted by Fan on 3 Nov 2010 at 15:10 PM
I would agree, when the award was originally conceived it was normally only 4 projects that where shortlisted. No GM+AD anymore.
#3 Posted by Namus on 3 Nov 2010 at 16:41 PM
I wish they would publish a list and images of all entries. 11 is an unusual number to shortlist. Always room to squeeze in another entry from establishment figures of the scottish architectural mafia?
#4 Posted by Dave on 3 Nov 2010 at 18:01 PM
The old fravioutes are on the list, Elder and Cannon.
Nicoll Russell Studios, Page \ Park are old hat.
anderson bell + christie I don't know why they are there.
The rest are just to fill the page.
Nicoll Russell Studios, Page \ Park are old hat.
anderson bell + christie I don't know why they are there.
The rest are just to fill the page.
#5 Posted by Frank W on 3 Nov 2010 at 20:06 PM
Pretty pathetic really, why not just put every project built in Scotland in the last year on the list?
That would make as much sense
That would make as much sense
#6 Posted by Rob on 4 Nov 2010 at 09:59 AM
What's with the Bo'ness Hippodrome being on the list? Is a lick of paint and a fancy chandelier all it takes to be a contender for Scotland's Best Building these days. I recently redecorated my spare bedroom, kicking myself for not submitting it.
As for the West Centre, should we as a profession really be endorsing this standard of project?
As for the West Centre, should we as a profession really be endorsing this standard of project?
#7 Posted by Anon on 4 Nov 2010 at 13:25 PM
I am sick of the negative comments that either bored/unemployed/cynical people continue to make on this website! The Architecture community is already struggling at the moment, do we have to contiinue to stick the 'cynical boot in' every single time a story in posted on urban realm?? Can some people get a life or try to be a bit less negative. Its nice to get a pat on the back and not to a kick in the teeth, especially in these times.....
#8 Posted by Stephen on 4 Nov 2010 at 15:12 PM
Namus, Dave, Frank W, and Rob.. Notice no surnames or practices?
It goes without saying that you all obviously are currently sitting on absolutely world class projects which are just ready and awaiting to come out the ground? No doubt absolutely beautifully detailed, with the most extravagant materials, and un-doubted architectural ability shining through?
Real world = real clients + real briefs + real budgets. I suspect you have the grasp of none of the above. But by all means continue to write immature and hypocritical comments online.
It goes without saying that you all obviously are currently sitting on absolutely world class projects which are just ready and awaiting to come out the ground? No doubt absolutely beautifully detailed, with the most extravagant materials, and un-doubted architectural ability shining through?
Real world = real clients + real briefs + real budgets. I suspect you have the grasp of none of the above. But by all means continue to write immature and hypocritical comments online.
#9 Posted by Clara Bow on 4 Nov 2010 at 15:24 PM
I'm delighted to see the Bo'ness Hippodrome make the shortlist, although I appreciate that it's probably too much (high quality) repair/restoration and not enough new design/ intervention to win. Neverthless it's a great achievement and an asset to the town
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/community/cultural_services/museums/museum_venues/hippodrome/hippodrome.aspx
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/community/cultural_services/museums/museum_venues/hippodrome/hippodrome.aspx
#10 Posted by Clara Bow on 4 Nov 2010 at 15:29 PM
Before
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/online/gallery/hippodrome/target1.html
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/online/gallery/hippodrome/target1.html
#11 Posted by Pippa on 4 Nov 2010 at 16:26 PM
@Stephen... it DOES go without saying, but I am glad you chose to say it. I am unsure why it is the aforementioned believe the short list for the award undermines "what it is supposed to represent" as RIAS is clear... they must "show innovation, design excellence and competence, irrespective of size or type. Other key considerations will be: detailing of materials, accessibility, sustainability, environmental issues, technical skill and aesthetic appeal"... Doesn't really discount any of the short listed entrants imo!
"The old fravioutes(sic)" or "establishment figures of the scottish architectural mafia" are merely the companies that employ the very real and talented people who designed the buildings put forward... to deny them the accolade this award affords them by dismissing them as "favoured" in some way is disrespectful and speaks of jealousy not objective criticism. To quote George Bernard Shaw "the people who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it"... or to quote Ren & Stimpy "if you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all."
"The old fravioutes(sic)" or "establishment figures of the scottish architectural mafia" are merely the companies that employ the very real and talented people who designed the buildings put forward... to deny them the accolade this award affords them by dismissing them as "favoured" in some way is disrespectful and speaks of jealousy not objective criticism. To quote George Bernard Shaw "the people who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it"... or to quote Ren & Stimpy "if you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all."
#12 Posted by My Top 3 on 4 Nov 2010 at 16:56 PM
1. Raasay Community Hall, Dualchas Building Design
2. Shettleston Housing Association Offices, Glasgow,Elder and Cannon Architects
3. 15 Fiscavaig, Skye Rural Design
And the moaning about the moaning is worse than the moaning.
2. Shettleston Housing Association Offices, Glasgow,Elder and Cannon Architects
3. 15 Fiscavaig, Skye Rural Design
And the moaning about the moaning is worse than the moaning.
#13 Posted by Frank W on 4 Nov 2010 at 20:07 PM
Stephen? written without a hint of irony. One of my practices projects is on the shortlist. My point is not concerning quality it is to do with a shortlist that contains 11 projects, that is stupid.
Fan I am also sad GM AD are not involved anymore and Malcolm Fraser. It seems very strange without them!
Fan I am also sad GM AD are not involved anymore and Malcolm Fraser. It seems very strange without them!
#14 Posted by Rob on 8 Nov 2010 at 14:23 PM
Stephen, In answer to your question I have personally overseen a project which was shortlisted for the Doolan prize in a previous year while working for a practice which rarely comes away from the main awards ceremonies empty handed. This isn't meant to be a boast but you did ask and I just wanted to make it clear that I am not sniping from the sidelines. Good architecture isn't premised on dream clients, briefs and budgets. That is an apologist argument.
Awards mean different things to different people but ultimately the winner (and to a lesser extent the shortlist) will be held up as an example of the best that we can do. The buildings that we put on this platform need to be really really good. If we include average projects for the wrong reasons then we devalue the principle of the award and the good buildings that deserve their place on the shortlist.
Awards mean different things to different people but ultimately the winner (and to a lesser extent the shortlist) will be held up as an example of the best that we can do. The buildings that we put on this platform need to be really really good. If we include average projects for the wrong reasons then we devalue the principle of the award and the good buildings that deserve their place on the shortlist.
#15 Posted by Rob on 8 Nov 2010 at 14:31 PM
For what its worth, without looking beyond the projects above I would have though the following would have been a more appropriate shortlist for Scotland's Best Building:
15 Fiscavaig, Skye Rural Design
John Hope Gateway, Edinburgh, Edward Cullinan Architects
Medical & Biological Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, Reiach and Hall
Raasay Community Hall, Dualchas Building Design
Shettleston Housing Association Offices, Glasgow,Elder and Cannon Architects
Big and small, urban and rural, something for everyone, nuff said.
15 Fiscavaig, Skye Rural Design
John Hope Gateway, Edinburgh, Edward Cullinan Architects
Medical & Biological Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, Reiach and Hall
Raasay Community Hall, Dualchas Building Design
Shettleston Housing Association Offices, Glasgow,Elder and Cannon Architects
Big and small, urban and rural, something for everyone, nuff said.
#16 Posted by Fan on 10 Nov 2010 at 15:11 PM
It funny how rural design have recently joined RIAS so that they can enter the award. Alan Dickson is always slagging off RIAS in how useless and waste of space they are. I hope eat your word Alan!
Also Alan, regarding your Salite Awards, I’m glad that the fact you and McAslan had been corresponding with before that (you remember that phone call!) had no influence on his decision!
Also Alan, regarding your Salite Awards, I’m glad that the fact you and McAslan had been corresponding with before that (you remember that phone call!) had no influence on his decision!
#17 Posted by Mike D on 11 Nov 2010 at 11:04 AM
I like how some buildings get some awards and other buildings don't. For example the Raasay Community Hall by Dualchas Building Design did not even get an Inverness Architectural Association award because the client told the judges they thought the cost of maintenance was excessive.
#18 Posted by JD on 11 Nov 2010 at 11:21 AM
Scottish Ballet HQ Glasgow, didn't even make the Doolan shortlist last year.
Yet it was awarded the Best Public Building and Architecture Grand Prix in the Scottish Design Awards.
Awards? A lottery.
Well done all who made the shortlist.
Yet it was awarded the Best Public Building and Architecture Grand Prix in the Scottish Design Awards.
Awards? A lottery.
Well done all who made the shortlist.
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