The Hoskins team had a great night seeing our collaboration with MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects - 'Prospect & Refuge’ - come to life at the Royal Scottish Academy’s Annual Exhibition opening. The vast exhibition, held at the beautiful RSA in Edinburgh, has works from numerous other RSA Academicians and their invited guest partners, from Neil Gillespie of Reich and Hall with Tony Fretton; Dick Cannon of Elder & Cannon with O'Donnell & Tuomey; and John McAslan with Paolo Mendes da Rocha. Each pair presented a different interpretation of the theme 'home’ and what it means to them, using their inspirational homes as the catalyst for discussion. The show is open to the public until 25 May 2016.

April 2016

We have spent the past 6 months collaborating with Nova Scotia, Canada, based architects MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple, on our joint exhibition entitled Prospect & Refuge.

Our exhibition is part of the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual exhibition, this year themed HOME. The exhibition sees 13 pairs of local and international architects comment and present on the topic of home. The exhibition has been curated by Robin Webster and will run from 16 April - 26 May 2016.

We are really excited about this showcase and hope you can visit the exhibition.

HOME is part of the Scottish Government’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and the 2016 Festival of Architecture.

More information can be found here: http://www.royalscottishacademy.org/exhibitions/rsa-annual-exhibition-2016/

http://www.mlsarchitects.ca/index.htm

April 2016

We have won a commendation for an EU-wide invited competition for the International Graduate Centre at Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen.

Funded by the Federal State of Hesse - as part of the university investment programme HEUREA - the 2000 sqm purpose-built centre for the university’s postgraduate cultural studies programme is the first step in the implementation of the masterplan for the university’s cultural sciences and humanities campus. The design of the building plays with the duality between openness and intimacy. The clearly structured building allows areas for both academic research and gathering spaces for informal exchanges between students and guests. Research facilities for quiet focussed learning are located at the perimeter: surrounding and overlooking the cascading; informal communication spaces at the heart of the building. This active, central heart connects all parts of the buildings and encourages multidisciplinary communication and the sharing of ideas.

April 2016

This evening, Nick Van Jonker will be delivering a brief lecture in memory of Gareth Hoskins as part of Scotland’s Festival of Architecture. Hosted as part of the Kilcreggan and Cove celebrations to mark the Festival, the lecture will be followed by a talk by Liz Davidson on Mackintosh and the Glasgow School of Art, and the lighting of a hundred lanterns as a tribute to Gareth.

The lecture will take place at 6.30, and weather permitting will be an open-air event beside the Glasgow Institute of Architects touring pavilion at Kilcreggan pier.

Further information: http://bit.ly/1UQRgJl

March 2016

Site works at our latest healthcare project are heading towards completion. The 6000m2 Eastwood Health & Community Care Centre is being procured through hub West Scotland and will shortly be handed over from Contractor, Morgan Sindall, to NHS GG&C and East Renfrewshire Council, to begin their commissioning period.

Eastwood H&CC will serve as a ‘reference project’ for future Healthcare developments, both within the NHS GG&C area and through Architecture + Design Scotland. The centre will be home to four local GP Practices,as well as provide clinical facilities and a base for the Council’s Community Health & Care Partnership.

March 2016

Following our well received Berlin City Library project, Hoskins Architects have been selected to undertake a feasibility study for the Central Library of Spandau, west of Berlin.

Situated near the entrance to the historic island centre and the main railway station, the public area of the library currently occupies approximately 1,700 m² of a graceful historic post office building.

It is an excellent location and the library currently attracts many visitors, especially children and teenagers. The local community college is relocating next door and in summer evenings the courtyard of the building is used for an outdoor cinema. A key aspect of our study therefore is to identify ways to strengthen the potential for the site to develop into a cultural campus.

The current interior spaces of the library are less successful. The internal acoustics and lighting do not enhance the space, there is no clear internal design concept and only limited space for working and exploring some of the alternative media that the library has to offer. This results in the overall atmosphere lacking the vibrancy and community life that a modern library can provide.

The aim of our study is to identify strategies to create an inspiring place for visitors to learn, work and interact with the purpose to strengthen the library’s position in the heart of the community. We are to develop a strong overall concept for the interior of the library, from wayfinding and furniture, to identifying new ways of integrating digital media.

The feasibility study, which will be developed in close relationship with the library staff, is planned to be completed by the end of April 2016. It will form the basis for different funding applications, e.g. EFRE funding.

March 2016