TWO projects by Archial, one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, have won top accolades at the 2010 Roses Design Awards last night in Manchester (14.10.10).
The projects, both designed by Archial’s Glasgow office, are the Small Animal Hospital for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, which won a Gold, and Lochgarry – 40 Cleveden Drive, Glasgow, a residential project undertaken for a private client which won Silver.
Archial’s eye-catching design for the £10.5 million pioneering Small Animal Hospital for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, won the Gold Award in the Architecture; Public Building Category.
The building has previously won a RIBA Regional Award, the Supreme Award from the Glasgow Institute of Architects and the prestigious RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.
Situated at the entrance to the grounds of the Garscube Estate, the Small Animal Hospital provides state of the art services for animal owners and referring practitioners throughout Scotland and Northern England, including the most advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical techniques.
Russell Baxter, of Archial, said: “One of our chief concerns when conceiving the design for this facility was how to create a large hospital building without ruining the beautiful green space for which the Garscube Estate is renowned.
“Essentially, our solution involved lifting up the ground, peeling off the grass and placing the new building underneath.
“Since various aspects of the new facility did not require natural light – much of its 4,500 sq m involves internal spaces such as the treatment area, oncology and diagnostics – this design solution was able to meet the needs of the hospital whilst maintaining the integrity of the location.
“In order to let daylight in to public areas, an innovative ‘crystal’ glass cupola, lit with different colours at night, sits within the building’s sloping grass roof.”
The natural look of the new Small Animal Hospital is completed with stone-filled gabion baskets, lending the building a deliberately solid and heavy base, emphasising the driving idea of roof and ground.
The recently-completed Lochgarry – 40 Cleveden Drive project is a stunning £3 million conversion of a luxury five bedroom period villa in the west end of Glasgow: the project picked up Silver in the Architecture: Residential Category.
The former boys’ home has undergone a dramatic transformation that has seen the architects extend and convert the property to better suit the requirements of the owner.
Calum MacCalman, director at Archial, said: “The more radical interventions made to the building are very modern, though we’ve respected and retained many of the traditional features.
“In addition to reinstating timber panelling doors, cornicing and ceiling roses throughout, we designed skirtings and facings for the house that complemented its traditional character whilst lending it a contemporary twist.”
The ground floor of the property now houses a library, living room and a dining kitchen, from which a new staircase descends into the garden level, where another kitchen and family relaxation space that relate directly to the garden are located.
This leads through to a study, gym, studio space and a hi-tech multimedia room.
The first floor, meanwhile, comprises four bedrooms, all en suite, while the entire second floor is devoted to a master suite, incorporating a sleeping area, dressing room and a sitting area with tea and coffee making facilities.
A new structural glass staircase extending from the first to the second floor is a particularly striking design feature.
Externally, the landscaped garden includes a cricket pitch, a cobbled driveway, an undercover barbecue area and various other al fresco spaces for relaxation.
The Roses Design Awards celebrate the best of graphic and architectural design produced in the UK outside the M25.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Calum MacCalman T: 0141 204 6500
Issued on behalf of Archial by Liquorice Media tel 0141 561 4018 www.liquorice-media.com
Date 15 October 2010.
Notes for editors
- Delivering global building solutions, the 900 employees of the privately held Ingenium Group of companies offer an extensive range of architectural, engineering, land use and development planning, interior design, project management, construction, design-build and partnership services through offices in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. It has a broad and diverse portfolio of completed work within the commercial, government, transportation and lifestyle sectors, comprising some of the largest building projects in the world. The Ingenium Group member company brands include Archial, Alsop Sparch, NORR, Giffels, CION and Westpro. For more information: www.theingeniumgroup.com.
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