Last month we had the pleasure of learning that a building we worked on earlier in the year has been awarded Scotland’s Best Building, an accolade we’re extremely proud to be part of.
Advocates Close is a restoration of a narrow backstreet in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, it was one of 13 projects shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Incorporation of Architects Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.
The award was presented by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, who said: “Advocate’s Close exemplifies the highest standards of place-making providing a vibrant new quarter in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and is a worthy winner of this year’s RIAS Andrew Doolan award.”
RIAS president Iain Connelly describes: “This year’s winner combines careful restoration with bold and uncompromisingly contemporary new additions in an idiom which is sensitive to its setting while avowedly ‘now’. The complexity of what has been delivered and the architectural self-assurance with which it is achieved makes this an extraordinary, truly special and very deserving winner.”
Our main contractor in the restoration was Interserve and the work was valued around £350k including products such as Protan Membrane Roofs, Euroclad Veio Roof & Wall Cladding, PPC Rainscreen Cladding & James & Taylor Synter Rainscreen tiles & Carea Cladding.
It was a particularly challenging and labour intensive project due to the fact we were adding to building from the 16th century, so we felt a great duty and responsibility to consider the history.
The position of the site also meant that it was not possible to use a crane to hoist materials to roof level meaning every item had to be manually carried up scaffolds.
Overall, a fantastic piece of historic architecture and it is a privilage to be part of it’s modernisation.