During the summer of 2019 A&DS and Scottish Government travelled to four locations across Scotland to review the delivery of recent affordable housing – built and planned.  We sought to identify what good looks like and how to get there in a range of settings. We heard from professionals, local people and residents and discussed the skills and resources needed.  We used the Place Standard tool to consider what it takes to create housing and places capable of improving our health and wellbeing.  The workshops produced lessons for housing policy and delivery.

Following the summer workshops on Housing to 2040 we spoke to people involved in the projects - including residents, planners, clients and architects. Here are their stories.

A reversal of fortunes over recent years saw the once thriving post war Fraser Avenue housing estate in Inverkeithing ranked in the top 15% of the most deprived areas of the country, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. However, as part of a long-term strategy for the area, the Fife estate’s once strong community spirit is again re-emerging during the course of a major regeneration.

The focus of the 2019 Education Buildings Scotland Conference was the Learning Estate Strategy and the ambition to connect people, place and learning. We have pulled together reflections on the themes discussed in the sessions across two days.

Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing Scotland and the world today. The materials we choose and how we design our buildings have a significant impact on responding to a changing climate and helps us reduce carbon emissions. Using locally sourced and sustainably grown timber is a key part in tackling the climate emergency.

The annual Best Use of Timber Awards recognise innovative and creative use of timber in buildings in Scotland. Part of the annual RIAS Awards scheme, the award is sponsored by Scottish Forestry and Wood for Good.

The exhibition will be open from 31 January until 6 April.  Join us for a celebration of the exhibition on the 19th February at The Lighthouse.

Image: The Macallan Distillery Experience by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Photo by Joas Souza

If you didn’t get a chance to see the Present Voices – Future Lives exhibition during its tour in 2019 you can catch it at The Lighthouse, Glasgow between 1 – 7 February. The views collected through the consultation and the travelling exhibition will help to inform the Scottish Government’s final vision and route map for housing over the next 20 years, which it is aiming to publish in spring 2020.

Exhibition Opening Hours:

Saturday (1 Feb): 13:00 – 17:00
Sunday (2 Feb): 12:00 – 17:00
Monday - Thursday: 10:30 – 17:00
Friday (7 Feb): 10:30 – 15:30

Image: Craig Stewart

This event, organised by the Academy of Urbanism, will be held in Dundee on the 28th February, and coincides with updates to key guidance in the UK/Scotland including: The Place Principle, Glasgow Place Commission, Regional Spatial Strategy introduction, BIDs in Scotland and RTPI research into Monitoring Outcomes of Planning.

The event will consider contemporary thinking and innovative approaches to the design, operation and management of cities and towns.

This event is devised for a broad audience of built environment decision-makers, including professional planners, architects and urban designers, landscape architects, highway and traffic engineers, regeneration, health, housing, town centre managers, consultants, retailers, public art and cultural practitioners.