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Aberdeenshire studio in former rubbish tip quarry wins Scotland’s building of the year

Quarry Studios in Aberdeenshire wins Scotland's building of the year. Image supplied by RIAS
Quarry Studios in Aberdeenshire wins Scotland's building of the year. Image supplied by RIAS

The free-flowing Quarry Studios in Aberdeenshire has been crowned the winner of Scotland’s Building of the Year award.

The striking structure in Crathie can be found amongst the trees deep within Cairngorms National Park.

It was designed by, and is the current office of, Moxon Architects and was given its name as structure lies at the bottom of a former rubbish tip quarry.

The building was made from traditional materials such as local timber and supported local jobs along the way during the construction process.

Quarry studio on a misty day. Picture supplied by RIAS

‘High-quality and tactile building’

In summer, it was announced the studio had been nominated for Scotland’s Building of the Year. Now the studio has received the coveted DIAS Doolan Award.

Quarry studios faced some stiff competition with other nominees Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus by Reiach and Hall Architects; High Sunderland, Galashiels, by Loader Monteith; Jedburgh Grammar Campus, Jedburgh, by Stallan-Brand Architecture; and Lockerbie Sawmill by Konishi Gaffney.

RIAS Doolan Award 2022 jury chairwoman, architect Amin Taha, stressed it was a difficult decision to choose the winner, but Quary studios stood out from the others.

She said: “Comparing such a wide variety of buildings was hard, but Quarry Studios demonstrates exceptionally careful thought in creating a high-quality and tactile building that is full of detail, while also delivering broader social outcomes.

Quarry Studios. Pictures supplied by RIAS.

“Moxon Architects have designed a building that is highly sustainable – not only in terms of its carbon footprint and support for local biodiversity, but also in how it acts as a catalyst for supporting local businesses and its community.”

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