This video produced by Jim Stephenson features the Ardoch residence in Aberdeenshire by locally-based studio Moxon Architects, which has been shortlisted for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.
The film forms part of a series being published by Dezeen in collaboration with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) to highlight the award’s five-strong 2024 shortlist.
In the video, viewers are introduced to the hillside farmstead, which was renovated and restored from a state of disrepair to encompass a home, studio and orangery built using “Scottish craftsmanship and local tradespeople”.
Founder of Moxon Architects Ben Addy and home-owner Naomi Mcintosh discuss the project’s “slow architecture” approach, which saw the site’s five ruins renovated over the course of a decade.
“It’s not a kind of an intellectual approach to a vernacular architecture,” Addy said. “Actually it’s very, very practical, which to my mind is a much more genuine version of vernacular because vernacular is a practical approach to building.”
“And that’s how these buildings have evolved through discussion; Naomi and I, and then also the people who’ve been involved in building them,” he added.
Moxon Architects was previously awarded the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award in 2022 for their Quarry Studios project.
The award was established in 2002 to highlight Scottish buildings. This year’s winner is set to be announced on 22 November.
Other renovation projects also shortlisted for this year’s award include Fruitmarket Gallery by Reiach and Hall Architects, and the Burrell Collection museum by John McAslan + Partners.
Other projects vying for the prize include North Gate Social Housing by Page\Park Architects and the University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub also completed by Reiach and Hall Architects.
The film and photography is courtesy of Jim Stephenson.
