The complex steel structure of the fully accessible house at Bellfield lane is now complete providing a first glimpse of how the sequence of intricately crafted spaces relate to it's eclectic context and the sea beyond. The house was designed by Architects Ian and Thea McMillan in collaboration with OCA
Rethinking Scotland's policy on architecture and place /
Our supported housing project in the Scottish Borders will feature in the Scottish Government's exhibition 'INPUT + IDEAS, Rethinking Scotland's policy on Architecture and Place which is on view at the Lighthouse, Glasgow during June.
INPUT + IDEAS gives you a chance to shape the future of Scottish architecture and placemaking policy. Nominated exemplar projects are presented to stimulate debate and encourage your input to the Scottish Government's consultation on the new policy.
Finalist in the Scottish Home Awards 2012 /
We are delighted that our conversion of the former Courier Newspaper buildings in Haddington into affordable housing and offices for East Lothian housing Association and Whiteadder developments has been shortlisted for both the Scottish Home Awards conversion of the year and the small housing development of the year awards 2012
Grand Designs /
Our 'Skerrie' House in Anstruther has a small feature in the May edition of Grand Designs magazine. This months edition also features articles on American Architect Tom Kundig, and coincidentally a house for Edinburgh based engineer David Narro who collaborated closely with OCA on the structure of the Skerrie House
Government seal of approval /
The Todlaw supported housing development has been included on the Scottish Government's webiste of 'inspirational designs'. This forms part of the government's agenda to promote good architecture and placemaking by showcasing the best of Scottish housing with the intention of inspiring others.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/AandP/InspirationalDesigns/ProjectType
OCA to host a Common Purpose event /
Civic leadership skill development organisation, Common Purpose, have asked OCA to host an event that will consider how the architectural profession is widening it's role to influence broader social and economic issues. Michael Collins and members of the City of Edinburgh's Planning Policy team will lead a discussion with twelve participants in early April
Kelpies Visitor Centre Collaboration /
Plant Architects, Toronto selected Oliver Chapman Architects as their partners to deliver the £1m Kelpies Visitor Centre project which will form part of the wider £41m Helix project near Falkirk. The commission entails creation of an internal public space within a 30m high Kelpie designed by sculptor Andy Scott, and an adjoining visitor pavilion. The Helix Project consists of 300 hectares of underused land between Falkirk and Grangemouth composed of woodland, a lagoon and parkland all interconnected via canals, walkways and cyclepaths. Five teams presented to the judges in February and the winning proposals will be announced in March. It is being funded by Falkirk Council, British Waterways, Central Scotland Forest Trust and the Big Lottery Fund.
Oliver Chapman Architects collaborates with UK and international practices who share their goal of design excellence, to design and deliver projects in Scotland.
Image credit: Plant Architects, Toronto
Schop Institute Events Website Launched /
Our 2012 programme of events goes live today.
www.schopinstitute.com.
Have a look at our 'Science and the City' talks and guided building visits for the Edinburgh Science Festival - and our International Summer School which we're running with our partners at Summerhall, Edinburgh's newest and most exciting performance and visual arts venue at the former Royal Dick Veterinary School.
Schop Institue is an educational foundation established to widen involvement in the debate about architecture and cities. It's educational programme is curated by Oliver Chapman Architects www.schopinstitute.com
OCA are working with the Forest to find a new venue /
It's great to be working with the Forest, Edinburgh helping them to find a new venue. Forest is a volunteer-run, collectively-owned, free arts and events organisation. They provide a dedicated space for people to get involved in any creative activity imaginable. Their events have included music, theatre, dancing, yoga, massage, poetry recitals, art displays, knit-ins, book tours, language teaching, monsterbike making…and plenty more. Please support their fundraising campaign to Save the Forest http://blog.theforest.org.uk/savetheforest
AJ Small Projects Award shortlists OCA's Skerrie House /
An extension of a fishing cottage in the East Neuk of Fife has been shortlisted for this year's small projects award orgainised by the Architects Journal. Shortlisted from 156 entries, the award has grown to become the UK's main opportunity to showcase the best architecture for commissions below £250,000 in value.
The Courier project completed in Haddington /
The Courier Building in Haddington has now been completed. The B Listed Maltings formerly home to the Courier newspaper's offices and printing works has succesfully been converted by OCA for East Lothian Housing Association to use as their offices as well as an additional 14 sustainable and affordable apartments.
The project has also been featured in urban realm- http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3235/Haddington_landmark_given_fresh_lease_of_life.html
Skerrie House published on Arch Daily /
Thanks Arch Daily for posting our Skerrie House in Anstruther today. Well deserved credit to Michael Collins, project architect . . . and photographer
http://www.archdaily.com/189451/anstruther-sea-view-extension-oliver-chapman-architects/
Michael Collins, Associate | MArch graduation and PassivHaus training /
Congratulations to Michael Collins, Associate Architect at OCA for his recent double achievement graduating with distinction as Master of Architecture from Edinburgh College of Art and completing training on a PassivHaus course. Michael's Masters was based on his research into self sufficient forms of urbanism with a particular focus on the city of Edinburgh.
3 Nations and After Dark | Presentations of the work of OCA & Schop Institute /
Oliver Chapman was invited by the Dutch Embassy and Buro Happold to speak at the 3 Nations conference in London. This was an initiative to share experiences of being a small practice for architects from England, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Oliver was also the guest speaker at the City of Edinburgh Council's 'After Dark' lecture series where he discussed how the practice is widening its role with its sister organisation Schop Institute.
Doors Open Day /
The Cockburn Association have organised this year's Edinburgh Doors Open Day which will run over the weekend Saturday 24th + Sunday 25th September 2011. OCA will be represented at three different locations:
Trinity Garden Room - Saturday from 2 - 5pm
Schop - Saturday from 2 - 5pm
Baha'i Faith Centre - Sunday from 2 - 5pm
Please see website for more details: http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/default.asp?page=120
RIAS Accreditation in Sustainable Architecture /
Oliver Chapman has been awarded the RIAS Accreditation in Sustainable Architecture in recognition of the practice's design excellence in this field.
The practice's low carbon housing at Scotland's Housing Expo and the affordable housing in Duns, Berwickshire were acknowledged as projects which demonstrated Oliver's commitment to sustainable design.
Cast Collection Conference /
The Edinburgh College of Art are hosting an international conference focusing on the Cast Collection between 9th-11th September 2011. Events include an opening reception with Lord Bruce (11th Earl of Elgin) + Councillor Deidre Brock. Guest speakers include Professors Charles McKean + Stephen Bann, Ian Gow and John Lowrey.
OCA Associate Director, Mark Cousins, will speak on the topic of ‘Accommodating Nike’ and the design of the proposed new gallery.
'Growing Capital' /
Summer School Day One | Follow our regular posts on our Facebook site (Oliver Chapman Architects) | Welcome to our team from Spain. After introductions, we are heading straight into our lively programme of discussions and design exercises. . . but only after a lunch time leg stretching stroll up Arthur's Seat. Great initial chat around our theme 'Architecture and Crisis' that included observations about how 'crisis' can be interpreted at different scales - from wholesale change in a city's planning down to the stresses of occupation during an event like the Edinburgh Festival.
Schop's Third Year in Edinburgh Art Festival /
Schop are delighted to announce that their proposed summer exhibition by Nick Sargent will feature as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF) programme for 2011.
Entitled 'A Scottish Land': an exhibition by Nick Sargent, the exhibition principally comprises a large site specific painted embroidered canvas both titled and depicting 'An unknown view of a Scottish landscape by two unknown artists'.
It will open on 4th August and run until 7th October 2011, Schop's third year in EAF
Summer School 'Growing Capital' /
Oliver Chapman Architects and Schop are organising a two week workshop titled 'Growing Capital' aimed at international architecture students keen to develop their written and spoken English and participate in a design workshop which explores contemporary issues that affect the historic city of Edinburgh.
The project will interrogate the city's fragility, not just its vulnerable built fabric and its economic dependancy on tourism and financial services, but also its sense of confidence and identity on the fringes of Europe.
www.schop.org.uk