Rail station among winners at Borders design awards

THE renovation of a former rail station – into a community hub – has been named among the winners at an awards ceremony celebrating the best of architectural design in the Scottish Borders.

The rail station at Stow (pictured), between Edinburgh and Galashiels, took the title, Design Award for Works to an Existing Building, at the Scottish Borders Design Awards. The renovation was overseen by architects, Aitken Turnbull.

The building is on the site of an existing rail station on the Borders Railway line.

Say the organisers of the awards: “The SBDA were established in 1984, running every alternate year, showcasing some of the best new buildings and renovations in the region. The awards aim to inspire the highest quality future designs and sustainable developments. 

“In recognition of the climate emergency, this year’s awards sought to put increased emphasis on sustainability and this criterion was embedded in all categories. 

“A total of 27 entries were received across the various categories.”

The winners were:

* Design Award for New Build (Residential): Beekeeper’s House, Roxburgh – Zone Architects

* Design Award for New Build (Commercial): Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels – Page\Park

* Commendation for New Build (Commercial): Jedburgh Grammar Campus – Stallan BrandDesign Award for Placemaking: Caerlee Mill, Innerleithen – Whiteburn

* Design Award for Works to an Existing Building: Stow Station House – Aitken Turnbull

* Commendation for Works to an Existing Building: Compact Accessible House, Kelso – Chambers McMillan Architects

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland