The Saltire Society Housing Design Awards 2017 were announced at a ceremony at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation with Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing and Dame Seona Reid, Guest Chair of the Awards. 

The Saltire Medal

Lane’s End
Dumfriesshire

Architect: John Murray Architect
Client: Freda Blackwood
Contractor: 3b Construction Ltd

Born of a clear unity of purpose between client and architect, this delightful mews type house  fronts on to a narrow lane in the centre of Thornhill and opens out to reveal charming, light  filled interiors built round a beautifully conceived and secluded walled garden. The visitor feels  instantly at home in both.

Awards

Fernan Gardens
Shettleston

Architect: Anderson Bell Christie
Client: Shettleston Housing Association
Contractor: Lovell Construction

In this development of 29 flats for the over 55s, delightful homes are created around a beautifully  landscaped courtyard. A simple and highly effective design treatment to the elevations with large  areas of glazing, intelligent detailing of materials and rigorous planning.

Lane’s End
Dumfriesshire

Architect: John Murray Architect
Client: Freda Blackwood
Contractor: 3b Construction Ltd

Born of a clear unity of purpose between client and architect, this delightful mews type house  fronts on to a narrow lane in the centre of Thornhill and opens out to reveal charming, light  filled interiors built round a beautifully conceived and secluded walled garden. The visitor feels  instantly at home in both.

 

Newhouse of Auchengree
North Ayrshire

Architect: Ann Nisbet Studio
Client: Mr & Mrs Law
Contractor: 3b Construction Ltd

On an elevated position in rural Ayrshire, this house references the local vernacular of isolated
farm steadings. Sheltered outdoor spaces, thoughtful consideration of views to all sides and a
highly enjoyable journey through the interior make this house a delight. A distinctive and
confident house by a new practice based in Glasgow.

Innovation in Housing Award

Fit Homes - Delivering Health
and Wellness in the Digital Age

Albyn Housing Society
Carbon Dynamic
NHS Highland

This project is innovative in its approach with procurement and finance to deliver social housing
for older and more vulnerable tenants.  With involvement from the NHS Highland and RG University,  the housing association is pioneering procurement and financing methods using off- site low-carbon  construction technology.  With a social enterprise involvement, there is lots of good thinking  about what will make attractive and highly flexible homes.

CIOB Good Building Awards

 

Newhouse of Auchengree
North Ayrshire

Architect: Ann Nisbet Studio
Client: Mr & Mrs Law
Contractor: 3b Construction Ltd

The high level of finish and attention to detail throughout the dwelling is highly visible and is also well reflected in the use and detailing of the zinc cladding to both the walls and roof.

 

Fernan Gardens
Shettleston

Architect: Anderson Bell Christie
Client: Shettleston Housing Association
Contractor: Lovell Construction

It is increasingly difficult in today’s financial climate to provide good quality affordable housing built to a high standard of design and construction as well as creating a good living environment for those who occupy the houses.

In this project, by Shettleston Housing Association, the general standard of brickwork and roof finishes together with the detailing and finish in the stairwells and raised brick planter areas for use by the individual occupiers of the ground floor units is high and worthy of note.

 

Commendations

Ravelston Dykes Lane
Edinburgh

Architect: Konishi Gaffney Client:
Private Contractor: Gloss Projects

A clever upgrading of a 1960s Edinburgh bungalow, this project has beautifully enhanced this
modernist house and its large garden setting. With a nod to a Japanese design, the sequence of
spaces from the street to rear garden is varied and generous. The highlights are a loggia addressing the front garden, long vistas down  the bedroom corridor and a dramatic living space addressing the back garden.

 
Edinburgh Road
Musselburgh

Architect: A449 Ltd
Contractor: Gloss Project

At an exposed coastal location, a unique home has been formed around the ruins of a sea wall and  former house. The design gives the best of the view to two rooms which terminate a long corridor whilst the  bedrooms face south to a courtyard garden. With imaginative detailing of some low-cost materials,  this skilful intervention creates a characterful home which is worthy of its dramatic setting.

 
Coldrach
Aberdeenshire

Architect: Moxon Architects Ltd
Client: Emma Rampton
Contractor: Tor Contracting Ltd

The rescue of a dilapidated Highland but ‘n ben to create a four-bedroom home. A new extension
echoes the original cottage, forming a sheltered courtyard space. Imaginative detailing,
particularly the use of red oxide corrugated sheeting recalls the vernacular farm outbuildings of
the area and helps to ensure that this house sits perfectly in its spectacular mountain setting.

House at Corrie
Torridon

Architect: Rural Design
Client: Sandy Macrae & Jane Tiller
Contractor: James McQueen Building Contractors

The creative use of a disused church building in a dramatic and remote setting to form a unique
family home. By breaking down the accommodation into a cluster of forms, the original
building is not overwhelmed and the house sits comfortably with the surrounding  mountains. Clever  space planning and deft use of materials and detailing ensure that this will be a robust and  much-loved destination.

Cowan Court Extra Care Housing Development
Penicuik

Architect: Hackland + Dore Architects
Client: Midlothian Council
Contractor: Hart Builders (Edinburgh) Ltd

This innovative development creates 30 new council houses and a 32-bed extra care home for dementia  sufferers. The panel was impressed with the success of the scheme in the community and how it had a  transformative effect on the lives of its residents. The care flats and housing are arranged around  landscaped garden spaces.

Old Orchard
Kirton of Craig

Architect: Gary Adam Chartered Architect
Client: Private
Contractor: DB Christie Joiners Ltd & Self Build


A cluster of four privately developed houses led by an architect-developer. Whilst being individual
in massing and materials the houses maintain a consistency of design through a common roof shape.  With a high level of energy efficiency and design ambition the scheme demonstrates that speculative housing can create a strong sense of identity, rooted in its locale.

The Glebe
Isle of Iona

Architect: Roots Architecture
Client: Iona Housing Partnership (2011-2015)
Client:West Highland Housing Association (from 2015)
Contractor: TSL Contractors Ltd

Fifteen years in the making, this development of five affordable homes provides desperately needed  new housing in one the UK’s remotest locations. In a highly sensitive site within view of the  Abbey, the linear form reinforces the existing settlement pattern. The efficient and compact form  of the houses was designed to be robust and buildable in an area of challenging transportation.

Innovation in Housing Commendation

Fraser Avenue
Inverkeithing, Fife

Architect: 7N Architects
Client: Fife Council
Consultant: Kingdom Housing Association

An exemplary approach to redeveloping one of Britain’s most deprived housing estates. The Council  and architects should be commended for thorough levels of community engagement which are informing the design for 200 replacement homes. There is a strong ambition to create an integrated and  cohesive new place whilst holding on to a strong community spirit. Breathable and low carbon  construction methods which are innovative in this sector are being developed.

View the 2017 Shortlisted Projects