Gibson wins architectural awards

RICHARD Gibson Architects won both prizes in the regional awards for Orkney and Shetland of the new Inverness Architectural Association awards this week.

The company secured the honours in the new buildings category for the House at West Shore, Walls, and in the new life for old buildings category for the House at Muckle Busta, Sandness.

There were seven shortlisted projects and after a day of viewing the Shetland entries, the judging panel of Shane Rodgers, secretary of the IAA and chairman of the judging panel, Stanley Ross-Smith, retired architect and Shetland Architectural Society member, Gwilym Gibbons, director of Shetland Arts, and Neil Firth, director of the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, retired to a quiet corner of the museum to deliberate and reach a final decision on the winners. After careful consideration they emerged just in time for the evening dinner, which was to precede the awards ceremony.

Mr Rodgers said: “The judges had a difficult task selecting the winner in these two categories. In the end the quality of the space created inside and out, together with beautiful detailing sealed the award for Muckle Busta. The contrast of a quality contemporary design against the old ruinous croft shone through for West Shore. The quality of detailing in these two projects and the spaces created were a joy, both for the visitor and for the owners who are able to enjoy these buildings every day.”

West Shore and Muckle Busta will now represent Orkney and Shetland at the grand final event to be held on 14th November at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness when the Regional Award winners for the Highlands and Islands will be announced. The other regions are Moray, Highland Central, Highland North, Highland West and Western Isles.