Home   News   Article

Awards will recognise the best in architectural design


By Kyle Ritchie

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

Communities, residents and businesses are being encouraged to nominate their favourite buildings for the 2020 Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards.

Both conceptual and completed developments can be nominated for these awards which are now in their 12th year.

The Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards are given to outstanding design achievements in the categories of Business Enterprise; Conservation and Building Adaption; Innovative Solutions to Housing Need; Landscape Design; Community Development and Innovative Single Houses.

A past winner includes Portsoy's Sail Loft holiday accommodation project.

Nominations are now being sought, and will close on Friday, December 20.

The Portsoy Sail Loft, which was turned into holiday accommodation, previously won in the design awards.
The Portsoy Sail Loft, which was turned into holiday accommodation, previously won in the design awards.

Eligible projects include extensions, single houses, commercial properties, conceptual housing schemes, landscaping, regeneration projects and the creation of new communities.

The first phase of judging will take place in April, ahead of further judging in May, and the winners announced at a ceremony in Aberdeenshire on October 1, 2020.

The judging panel will feature the chair and vice-chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee (ISC), the director of infrastructure services and four external professional advisors.

ISC chairman and judging panel member councillor Peter Argyle said: “Every year we see new buildings completed across Aberdeenshire which make us proud of the standards of design and build from the private and public sectors.

"Winners in previous years have included everything from single homes to community developments.

"It is also encouraging that conceptual designs are considered for these awards, demonstrating the ambition of architects and designers in Aberdeenshire and helping us to imagine what the area will look like in coming years.

"I encourage anyone to put forward a nomination and I look forward to seeing the full range of nominations when the judging panel meet next year.”

The awards were established in 1997 as a means of raising the profile of good innovative design.

Taking place every two years, the awards provide a benchmark for the quality of recent development and the effectiveness of planning policies. It also seeks to inspire excellence and innovation across Aberdeenshire.

There are three tiers of award: distinction, highly commended and commended along with the Ian Shepherd Award given to the entry considered to be the best of all those submitted.

ISC vice-chairman councillor John Cox said: “The beauty of Aberdeenshire is the way that the historical built environment and the newer projects sit side-by-side and complement each other.

"It is exactly those sorts of projects which these awards are designed to recognise, ones which encourage developers to think about the relationships between old and new, past and present. I look forward to seeing the 2020 award winners.”

Visit https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/environment/built-heritage/aberdeenshire-design-awards/ to nominate and read about some previous winners.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More