Scotland's top 10 'outstanding' new buildings named by architects

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced the winners of its annual awards which recognise the best in Scottish architecture.

The panel of judges travelled 850 miles to view the properties at the apex of Scottish architectural design, all which have delivered an array of functions and met a huge variety of needs, from the civic to the deeply personal across both urban spaces and natural landscapes.

Winning cottage Iorram, in Plockton, Wester Ross, was described by judges as a “profoundly poetic home” that was also highly functional given the precision and innovation applied by architects Colin and Megan Baillie to micro living in a sustainable way.

Meanwhile, a social housing development in Glasgow by jmarchitects, which has created 120 new homes on the site of outdated 1960s blocks in Pollokshields, was praised for creating high-quality living spaces and a green neighbourhood on a difficult site.

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Chris Dyson, jury chair, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the discussions with my fellow jurors. The projects in this year’s top ten were exceptional: our visits and reviews were rigorous and gave us the time and space to appreciate in full the great care and consideration given to craftsmanship, responses to climate change and placemaking.

“Scotland really showed us its richness of its urban and natural landscapes and the outstanding quality of architecture being produced within them.”

The Tea Pavilion at Tarlair Pool near Macduff, was recognised for its sensitive restoration of a historic site, with the building the first step in the broader redevelopment of one of Scotland’s oldest lidos.

The new Paisley Central Library, by Collective Architecture, was described as a “model for urban regeneration”, showing how underused high street buildings can be transformed into destinations that enrich community life and civic pride.”

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Also recognised was the Edinburgh Futures Institute, designed by Bennetts Associates, a remodelled A-listed Victorian hospital which now offers “exceptional” facilities for university students, including a 450-seat auditorium and new public square.

RIAS President Karen Anderson said: “The RIAS Awards once again demonstrate that great architecture adds value across Scottish society.”

Neilston Learning Campus, East Renfrewshire, designed by BDP, was another education centre honoured in the awards.

Parkhead Health & Social Care and Community Hub in Glasgow, designed by Hoskins Architects, also made the best in Scotland list. It is the health board’s first net zero building and brings together a library, pharmacy, café and social care. Judges praised the design’s ability to “transform everyday services into inspiring, human-centred spaces”.

Meanwhile, Preston Tower, Doocot and Gardens in East Lothian, by GRAS, restored a 15th century towerhouse and doocot was also highlighted for its sympathetic restoration in a cherished community park.

The Canna House Project for the National Trust for Scotland on the Isle of Canna by LDN Architects was praised for restoring the Category B building to its mid-20th Century heyday while protecting the building and its contents from the harsh climate.

The Usher Building at the University of Edinburgh by Hassell was recognised for the way the building - a purpose-built centre for population health research and innovation - balanced civic ambition withtechnical innovation and human-centred design. Judges described it as a building both “highly functional and uplifting”.