November 8 2017

Richard Murphy Architects have been recognised with the RIAS Andrew Doolan prize for their work on Dunfermlines Carnegie Library and Galleries after emerging as a ‘clear winner’ among a dozen shortlisted projects.

This saw the practice pick up a cheque for £25k in addition to a gold medal cast by goldsmith James Brent Ward.

A judges citation for the winning project read: “In 2007 Richard Murphy Architects won a competition for a major new cultural hub in Dunfermline’s historic centre.  The new building is organised along a top-lit internal street, criss-crossed by bridges. To provide access an adjacent car park was redesigned as a walled garden leading to an entrance courtyard. External materials are sandstone, oak and Corten steel, acknowledging the town’s industrial heritage and the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, after whom the building is named.

“Internally the new spaces connect with the existing library, reference rooms repurposed as events spaces. At the lower level the local history reading room is organised in three tiers.  The children’s library, opens directly onto the garden.  On the floor above the café’s terraces offers views over the Abbey.  Above is a double level, barrel vaulted museum and three flexible art galleries. The circulation ‘architectural promenade’ offers key views of significant historic buildings, culminating in a cube window framing views of the Abbey.”

The judging panel comprised RIAS president, Stewart Henderson PRIAS, professor Sue Roaf FRIAS, recently retired professor of architectural engineering at Heriot-Watt University and Susie Stirling, head of placemaking & housing in the Scottish Government’s planning & architecture department.

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