ScottishArchitecture.com

High quality homes which form part of well designed and sustainable communities were applauded at the Scottish home building industry’s premier event, the Homes for Scotland Quality Awards.  Winners of this year’s awards were announced by broadcaster Sally Magnusson in front of almost 750 guests and the Minister for Communities Stewart Maxwell at the EICC on Friday 9 May 2008.
 
Embracing the Scottish Government’s place-making agenda, the focus for this year’s Awards was on “Designing Places” and the competition was eagerly embraced by Homes for Scotland’s members who submitted a record number of entries in the categories of urban, rural and masterplanning.  The organisation represents companies building 95% of the country’s new homes. The Awards were judged by an independent panel, chaired by Scotland’s Chief Planner Jim Mackinnon.
 
Jim Mackinnon said:  “It was encouraging to witness so many examples of excellence within the industry.  If the achievements we’ve been celebrating today are anything to go by, we can all look forward to further improvements in the quality of development which respond to the challenges and opportunities of Scotland’s urban and rural landscape as well as the new challenges around climate change.”
 
Homes for Scotland’s Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said:  “Our annual awards are designed to improve standards and promote best practice within the industry.  Having gone from strength to strength every year, they are unrivalled in terms of national reach, credibility and in addressing the issues that matter to the consumer, government and others.  This event has been the best ever in terms of quality and quantity of entries.  We are very encouraged by our members’ commitment to designing excellent ‘places’ - congratulations to all concerned!”
 
Designing Places Awards 2008 – Awards & Commendations are listed below:

Urban Large – Awards (Sponsored by Premier Guarantee)

Bellway Homes, Mondriaan, Maryhill, Glasgow
Judges were very impressed by Mondriaan. It was felt that the development had created a radical new place amidst one of the most challenging social environments in Scotland.

Bryant Homes East, Hopetoun Village, Edinburgh
Hopetoun both reflects and enhances its surroundings, a truly remarkable achievement for a site on the fringes of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. 

Urban Large - Commendations

Miller Homes West, Tower View, Leverndale, Glasgow
Creates a very strong sense of identity by marrying and contrasting old and new to form successful square-like spaces. 

The Burrell Company - Upper Strand Developments Ltd, Edinburgh
(In partnership with Places for People).  Great effort had been made to create street space that was people and particularly child friendly.
 
Urban Small – Award (Sponsored by Morisons LLP)

Tweed Homes, Provost Kirkpatrick Court, Peebles
A place that had genuinely been created in an unlikely situation. What was before simply dead space have been given genuine life and vibrancy.

Urban Small - Commendation

Applecross, Eyre Place, Edinburgh
Though a very modern development, it goes with the grain of the surroundings making a positive contribution to the area. 
 
Rural Large – Award (Sponsored by Forster Roofing)

CALA Homes, Briery Meadow, Haddington
A distinct identity has been created for the development with excellent use of walls, hedges and materials. Landscaping is high quality and the creation of open space works well. 

Rural Large - Commendations

Robertson Homes, Lochan Mor, Aviemore
Lochan Mor provides new housing that is attractive in its simplicity and has rural character in its use of materials and colour.

Rural Small – Award (Sponsored by Harley Haddow)

CALA Homes, Orchard Lane, Dirleton
The overall feel is of a new development that blends perfectly and matches the high quality of the existing community. 

Rural Small - Commendations

Macfarlane Homes, Rutherford Gardens, West Linton
A stunning exemplar of how to marry cutting-edge modern architecture with traditional buildings.

Miller Homes East, Silverwood, Howgate Village
This development has made a very positive contribution to the area, with the village green in particular enhancing the village feel of the location. 
 
Masterplanning - Awards (Sponsored by Paull & Williamsons)

The EDI Group for PARC Craigmillar, Greendykes North, Edinburgh
High quality public realm and public spaces are proposed that look set to change the function and perception of the area. The approach to landscaping has been both bold and imaginative, changing how cars and pedestrians will integrate.

The EDI Group for PARC Craigmillar, Wauchope Square, Edinburgh
Streets are being created that deliberately slow vehicles by design, and allow pedestrians and vehicles access without conflict.  This approach has drawn well on practise from elsewhere, but been applied sensibly in a local context.

Masterplanning - Commendation

Elphinstone Holdings, the Sustainable Urban Village, Glasgow
Great care has been taken to incorporate the waterfront setting of the development, with a tiered approach adopted to create a positive visual impact and maximise the views from the new homes and offices.

Judges’ Special Award (Sponsored by McGrigors)

Bryant Homes East, Hopetoun Village, Edinburgh
Judges comments: "Hopetoun Village pressed all the right buttons.  It doesn't just look right, it makes you want to explore - you want to see where the paths lead and what it is that is just around the corner.
 
Bryant Homes have achieved something very special. This is a development that shows how it can be done, and more so how development can enrich the lives of people who live there, a city and indeed our country. For all of these reasons and many more, Hopetoun Village receives the Judges Special Award for 2008."