The director of an Inverness architecture firm has defended plans drawn up for a historic street in the city after an outcry from residents and councillors.
The proposals to build a block of modern apartments in a historic area of Inverness sandwiched between C-listed and B-listed buildings on Ardross Street were greeted with horror.
Earlier councillor Graham Ross who said: “It is back to the Lego school of architecture. To me, it looks like it was done on the back of a fag packet rather than something inspirational.”
Director of HRI Architecture Andrew Bruce defended the firm against the accusations claiming some simply wanted “pastiche copies of older Architectural styles”.
He pointed out the plans had been completed by incorporating suggestions from the Inverness Design Review Panel.
Mr Bruce said: “Carefully designed contemporary architecture invariably attracts adverse comment from those who prefer pastiche copies of older Architectural styles but constructive, informed comments are always welcome.
“This design has been carefully developed over several months, involving a number of design development stages and being submitted to and discussed in detail with the Inverness Design Review Panel and incorporating their comments, prior to submission for planning consent.”
He believes that in years to come the design, if accepted, would form a “positive contribution” to the cityscape.
He said: “Just as the existing buildings on Ardross street were designed for their time, the new building is reflective of our time and is intended to make a positive contribution to the streetscape.
He added: “We regret that any councillors or indeed others consider the design inappropriate to its context but trust that, as with other recent contemporary work in the city, if it is consented this design will in time come to be seen as high quality and entirely in keeping with both the older buildings on Ardross Street and the evolving architecture of Inverness.”