November 30 2023

A nested 'building within a ruin' has been named as the 2023 Andrew Doolan Best Building, the first one-off house to secure the top award in its history.

Ann Nisbet Studio achieved what no one else has at Cuddymoss, a ruined farmstead in North Ayrshire, by sensitively amalgamating a newly built home within the ruin to maintain connections of history and landscape.

Retaining as much of the existing structure as possible the client, a keen birdwatcher, ensured that an old window ledge in the ruin was retained to encourage roosting owls. Behind this a new build element clad in silver-hued timber is quietly tucked away - part of a stated goal to emphasise simplicity, not domestication or romanticism.

Lauding the authenticity of the light touch concept Doolan judges were swayed by the respect shown to history. RIAS President Chris Stewart PRIAS said: “Much of Scotland’s best architecture can be seen in one-off homes, and it was therefore long overdue for a newly-designed house to be named winner of the RIAS Doolan Award.

"Cuddymoss is an outstanding winner – combining Ann Nisbet Studio’s clear concept and design rigour with the client’s deep sense of responsibility to the building and its surrounding landscape. The result is a beautiful building that works extremely well as a home, and is deeply respectful of the original building’s character, heritage and setting.”

Cuddymoss secured the top prize against stiff competition from Campus Central at the University of Stirling by Page\Park Architects, Hundred Acre Wood in Argyll and Bute by Denizen Works, and the Laidlaw Music Centre at the University of St Andrews by Flanagan Lawrence. 

14 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 30 Nov 2023 at 12:41 PM

Pretty fair attempt although with a couple of rough edges that will not age well.

Invisible link -- Just wait for the algae to develop.
Window cleaner on speed-dial might work.
Bricked up doorway -- Cheap and tacky.

The design standards on show ...

That is what we should expect on any project not give them a prize because the rest is so poor.

#2 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 30 Nov 2023 at 16:02 PM

Nice but nothing we've not seen before.

Except - those exposed steel columns, and their associated shadow gaps. As with a lot of 'simple' aesthetics, a lot of time and money has gone into creating that.

Presumably the nature conservation approach extended to providing a spider habitat.

#3 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 30 Nov 2023 at 16:29 PM

Went to have a look at the drawings - interesting.

The original design (similar but with a porch and dormer) was obtained by IPM Associates, and renewed in 2015 by Ann Nisbet Studio with the same drawings (North Ayrshire Council reference 15/00584/PP).

So no drawings for the current design online - presumably the changes would all be non-material. Will IPM get a Doolan award too?

#4 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 30 Nov 2023 at 16:54 PM

Also - this building was completed in October 2018 (North Ayrshire Council ref 16/01005/BW), so more than five years ago. Five years!

How long does the Doolan judging process take? Or do practices these days, in the absence of anything better, dig out a historic job and fire it in?

I nominate Hill House for the 2024's Best Building award.

#5 Posted by Russel Sutton on 30 Nov 2023 at 17:20 PM

#4 - I second Hill House for 2024 best building

#6 Posted by fed up with this sort of thing on 30 Nov 2023 at 18:06 PM

I do wonder how much the laminated glazed link cost alone? Is it possible to be told this? Why is the wood store not adjacent to the stove? Just askin'.
Where are all the discarded bits of agricultural machinery and life's collated junk lying about?
I just don't get how in the middle of nowhere everything has to be so pristine and precious. I just find this type of architecture so tedious and not life-affirming. It's definitely a class thing as far as i can see. It's Homes and Garden. Down with this sort of thing.

#7 Posted by FHM on 1 Dec 2023 at 09:03 AM

A lot of angry jealous comments above. Presumably by angry men who are frustrated that a female led studio has done something they have never done, and likely never will do.

Perhaps you chaps should focus more on learning and less on making nonsensical and jealous anonymous comments online.

#8 Posted by Dave on 1 Dec 2023 at 09:40 AM

@#2 Nairns Bairn - IPM Associates are Structural Engineers (very good ones too - I've worked with them) and I know they do architectural design work too.

#9 Posted by Lovely on 1 Dec 2023 at 09:42 AM

Nice design but not that nice to get the top award and how did identity politics creep into this design debate meantime anyway?

#10 Posted by fed up with this sort of thing on 1 Dec 2023 at 10:05 AM

Sorry, mate. It's all an artifice. Where's the life? Male/ female, who cares? They won a badge, good luck to them. If these expensive, derivative and lifeless stage sets are your thing, fine, but spare us all your patronising comment.

#11 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 1 Dec 2023 at 10:14 AM

@#7 Why the misandry? I'm female, so at least half the comments above (I think we can rule out Fat Bloke and Russel) are from females, and speaking for myself I didn't think my comments were either 'angry' or 'jealous' - they were intended to be part informative, part humorous (though I appreciate text can be read in whatever tone one chooses).

As to my (facetious) comment about some of the Doolan cash going to the firm which secured the Planning Permission, IPM Associates are also female-led. No misogyny intended, or indeed possible.

#12 Posted by Nice on 1 Dec 2023 at 14:38 PM

Really good looking project.

Interested however to understand how several of the implemented details were assessed by Building Control, namely the open balustrade to the little stair, and the single step within the glazed corridor?

#13 Posted by David on 1 Dec 2023 at 15:07 PM

#12 Indeed - had a look at the planning drawings (thanks #3) - they show four steps down to the glazed link, addressing the one-step hazard. Perhaps they were able to argue the glazed link was a porch/conservatory?

The open balustrade must have had a temporary protective barrier on it for the Completion inspection - even the most nonchalant Building Standards Surveyor would not have missed that one. Fall from height + concrete floor + child is not a happy combination!

#14 Posted by GBH on 4 Dec 2023 at 12:58 PM

It would be interesting if the judging panel could address the issue of why they are celebrating architecture with staircases that do not comply!
All said and done, it is an achievement to be short listed and more so to win the Doolan Prize, so congrats to Ann Nisbet and her team.

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