Date: 07 March 07
Author: Caroline Ednie, Web Editor
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Six years after the Scottish Executive launched its first ‘Policy on Architecture for Scotland’, a new architecture policy document, ‘Building Our Legacy: Statement on Scotland’s Architecture Policy 2007’ was recently unveiled at The Lighthouse. Arriving in the wake of last year’s ‘Scotland’s Culture’, the Executive's response to the Cultural Commission's review of Culture in Scotland, which stated a commitment to a renewed and strengthened architecture policy statement, the new policy document is essentially the culmination of an extensive public consultation process. In particular ‘The Public Consultation: Review of Policy’ document of May 2006, which set out twelve key challenges that the policy needed to addressed and welcomed views from a wide range of national and local built-environment groups and bodies, forms the basis for the current statement.
So, does Scotland need another architectural policy statement? Ian Gilzean, Chief Architect at the Scottish Executive’s Architecture Policy Unit, thinks so, and tells Web Editor Caroline Ednie why.
“The review is not only about providing an update, it’s also about addressing the changes that have taken place to the policy landscape,” Gilzean explains. “For example sustainability is one of the key challenges currently rising to the top of the government’s agenda. There is a need for a greater emphasis on sustainability in the built environment, and also the need to recognise the importance of a wider urban and rural design agenda, and we have to address these types of issues.”
The fundamental principals of the original ‘Policy on Architecture’ document ‘to promote the value and benefits of good architecture, encourage debate on the role of architecture in national and local life and further understanding of the products and processes of building design’ may not have changed, and may still hold true. “But we have to be more specific about how we tackle the challenges, and break down the barriers that still exist,” says Gilzean.
Still, Gilzean believes that significant progress has already been made since 2001. “The key achievement since the publication of the original architecture policy document is that there is cross government support which recognises the importance of architecture and design. Architecture policy informs government thinking across the board and the importance of design, as exemplified in our ‘Designing Places’ planning policy statement of 2001, is now a material consideration in terms of the planning process. Furthermore, in establishing the Scottish Building Standards Agency (2004) and Architecture and Design Scotland (2005), this has led to a wider and more pro-active role in the promotion and advocacy of good design.”
The establishment of Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS), as the new independent champion for a better designed built environment, is described in ‘Building our Legacy’ as “a milestone in policy implementation”, which is no small claim? “It was a crucial step setting up A+DS,” explains Gilzean. “They took over the design review role previously held by the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland (RFACS). But the RFACS remit was restricted and we felt that there was the opportunity to create an independent body that had a wider more pro-active role particularly at the earliest stages of project development. There’s a strong enabling strand to what they do, and ultimately their role is to support the architecture policy in terms of offering good advice about the design process in a hands-on way. A+DS is about raising people’s aspirations in terms of design and about giving the support and advice that they need in order to achieve better outcomes.”
Currently, A+DS is working closely with the Scottish Executive, local authorities and others to promote good design in public sector projects including schools, hospitals and urban regeneration projects. “I think that we’ve made a lot of progress over the past few years in terms of the enabling role of A+DS and in the appointment of Design Champions to public sector clients looking to procure new buildings. I believe that the design review process is now less confrontational and more hands-on.”
The issues of public sector Procurement and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are currently attracting a fair amount of debate and criticism, yet the new architecture policy document does maintain a commitment to this approach to delivering good design? “It’s probably fair to say that with the first round of PPP projects there was probably less awareness of how to achieve the best results, but we have also seen that PPP has the potential to deliver good design,” says Gilzean. “And what we’ve learned from the process of modernising the School Estate has resulted in the publication of a series of guidance measures identifying the possible pressure points of PPP projects. There have also been various conferences and events around this issue. There is evidence that PPP can deliver. For example Elder and Cannon Architects helped East Renfrewshire Council develop their brief and output specification by working up design exemplars - this made it clear to the PPP contractors the quality that the Council were seeking to achieve. But it is a complex process which requires a good brief, clear focus and teamwork. And I believe that A+DS has a significant role to play in this ongoing dialogue.”
The role of the A+DS is central to ‘Leadership and Delivery’, one of the five key objectives identified in the current policy document and one of the main priorities for future policy development. The other key areas include: the promotion of architecture within a cultural context; developing education, skills and advocacy; strengthening the development of sustainability, accessibility and inclusive design; and finally encouraging a better understanding of our built heritage.
“Generally, I feel that we have achieved a lot in terms of providing a supportive climate for debate and raising public awareness of architecture and design, thanks in most part to The Lighthouse’s programme of exhibition, events and awards and their delivery of the National Programme. The standard of exhibitions and their quality of ideas have been excellent – and have attracted over 200,000 visitors. We’ve also generated a whole number of online resources. Over the last ten years I believe that there has been a greater interest in architecture and design in Scotland and I feel that The Lighthouse has had a pivotal role in this cultural shift, as it has given a whole identity to the discussion. Scottish Architecture has also become part of the international architectural agenda, for example in our participation at the Venice and Rotterdam Biennales.”
The new policy document also heralds a new era as the National Programme reinvents itself as ACCESS to Architecture. “The National Programme has been very successful and we wanted to build upon this success and develop a few distinct strands,” Gilzean continues. “The first is to continue celebrating achievement and looking at emerging architecture and young talent. We also wanted to find new ways of engaging in local communities. ACCESS to Architecture, which will still be managed and delivered by The Lighthouse, is more like a campaign than a programme. It’s about generating ideas and energy out there in the communities, and acting as a catalyst for positive change as exemplified in the Girvan Masterplan Project which saw a collaboration between The Lighthouse National Programme, Girvan Horizons and Sutherland Hussey Architects yield a whole regeneration proposal for the town.”
“There has also been a lot of encouraging developments in the area of ‘Education, Skills and Advocacy’” says Gilzean. “For example a key development is the expansion of the A+DS Enabling programme which has already seen best practice discussions with key built environment organizations, such as Homes for Scotland (whose members account for over 95% of new homes built in Scotland). A series of Planning Advice Notes are also now in place, so it’s now just a case of developments taking place on the ground. I would like to see the next stage of the policy looking at how we can translate this good advice into action.”
In terms of the “Sustainability, Accessibility and Inclusive Design’ agenda, the new policy document outlines an ongoing commitment to the successful SUST: The Lighthouse on Sustainability campaign, with a further two year funding package.
The final key objective, ‘Built heritage’, is a new strand to the policy, and according to Gilzean, “here we are trying to address the issue that built heritage is an asset rather than a constraint. There are many ways in which we can celebrate our built heritage, and I believe that we have more to do to promote understanding of the built heritage and the benefits that can come out of a coordinated approach to place making. It’s important to look at how existing infrastructure can be used to make a place of character. The adaptation and re-use of existing buildings is also key to the sustainability agenda. We’re keen to show that the policy is not just about promoting brand new architecture it’s about how new buildings can integrate with existing places.”
“Generally speaking, the current policy document is more about a plan of action, and tackling certain difficult issues in a more co-coordinated way. We’re much more involved with analysing problems and coming up with the solutions. It’s all about translating the aims of the policy into the nitty gritty.” So, what in terms of nitty gritty reality can we hope to see in the future?
“I would like to see more locally based architecture centres emerge on the back of the work carried out by ACCESS to Architecture. If we could achieve this aim of bringing discussion and debate into the heart of the local communities then it would be a big step forward.”
“Overall, the ‘Big Idea’ has to be seeing architecture policy embedded into place making as a whole, and I’d like to see more examples of urban and rural design ideas actually being delivered on the ground. The overall outcome that we’d like to see is for Scotland to be recognised for the quality of its new architecture, and to be regarded as a player in the field of sustainable design and the built environment. It’s about helping people go beyond where they think they can go. The whole reason behind the policy is to improve people’s life with via a better quality of built environment. And if we can help to achieve that then that is our biggest goal.”
Document: Building Our Legacy - Statement on Scotland's Architecture Policy 2007
Ref: RR Donnelley B49070 2/07
Format: Adobe PDF document
Size: 2793.84 kb
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