Village hall named winner of capital architectural awards

A NEW village hall – serving the island community of Iona – has been named Building of the Year in awards celebrating the work of Edinburgh-based architects and architecture in the capital.

Designed by South Queensferry-based WT Architecture, the hall replaces a much-loved but deteriorating single-space hall built by islanders in 1928.

Says an announcement by the awards organisers, the Edinburgh Architectural Association (here): “WT Architecture and the design team have worked alongside the community since 2012 to deliver a building that can fulfil the functions of gathering space, learning facilities, school PE space, ceilidh hall, theatre, playgroup, music venue and wedding venue – amongst others.”

The other award winners (details of which can be found, here) were:

• Small project – Old Schoolhouse, Morningside, Edinburgh – Mills + McCullough Architects

• Residential – The Barn, Dunbar – Brennan & Wilson Architects

• Large project – Queensferry High School – Ryder Architecture

• Regeneration / conservation – High Sunderland, near Selkirk – Loader Monteith

• Masterplanning – Meadowbank, Edinburgh, masterplan – Collective Architecture

• Ambassador – What If…?/Scotland exhibition – 7N Architects

• Wood – Lockerbie Sawmill – Konishi Gaffney

Pictured: Iona village hall. Picture credit: WT Architecture