Elder and Cannon Architects’ acclaimed Castlemilk Stables regeneration project in Glasgow, which incorporates aluminium curtain walling from Technal, has won the RIAS Best Building in Scotland Award.
For the first time in the history of the RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland), the association presented the Andrew Doolan Best Building Award to two winners – Elder and Cannon for the Castlemilk scheme and Bennetts Associates for the Potterrow Development.
The Castlemilk project has already won a string of awards, including an RIBA Award, Civic Trust Award, Scottish Design Award, and the Glasgow Institute of Architects Supreme Award.
The scheme has restored a late eighteenth century listed stable block, which had been severely damaged by fire, and with the addition of a striking new courtyard extension, has been transformed into a vibrant focus for the local community and a catalyst for regeneration in the area.
A complex series of forms in steel, glass, timber and aluminium now enclose the original stable building. Technal’s Trame Horizontale curtain walling was used for the upper gallery facing the recessed courtyard and contrasts successfully with the original natural stone façades that have been preserved. The glazing system, which was fabricated and installed by Systems Aluminium, incorporates flush face gaskets to soften the vertical profiles, creating a frameless appearance.
Concealed top hung vents inserted into the curtain walling provide natural ventilation for the first floor offices and reception area.
“We wanted a curtain walling system for the upper floor, which would minimise any glazing sight lines, and meet our performance requirements and budget constraints”, said Tom Connelly, Director of Elder and Cannon Architects.
“The Technal Trame system has successfully achieved this and the contemporary glazing works very well, enclosing the efficient, modern office space on the first floor gallery, and helping to bring a historic building back to life.”
Commenting on the award, the judges said, “This building demonstrates how architecture and design can have a positive impact on our lives…..The quality and range of submissions for this RIAS award are testimony to the exceptional standard of Scottish architecture today. The winners are buildings of the highest standards, and reflect a vital strand of Scottish architecture – the creative re-use of historic buildings.”
Technal’s MX Trame curtain walling gives specifiers the flexibility to accentuate the vertical or horizontal profiles with projecting caps, and uses specially designed flush gaskets to reduce the sight lines of the corresponding sections for a distinctive effect across the façade. The system can accommodate 6mm to 32mm glazing as a flat façade and the MX Trame Horizontale option can be faceted up to 10 and supplied with a 32mm to 42mm infill for applications where additional acoustic performance is required.
The Castlemilk Stables provide office accommodation for local housing associations, managed workspace for small businesses, a conference facility and community crèche. The scheme has also been designed to minimise impact on the environment, with sustainable features such as a ground source heat pump to distribute the under floor heating – reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Project Name: Castlemilk Stables
Project Location: Glasgow
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