21 May 2009

Prestigious award for Dean of Architecture

Graeme Hutton, Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Dundee has been awarded a prestigious national prize for a Perthshire house he designed.

Drummond House near Meigle, popularly known as ‘The Shed’, was one of seven buildings in Scotland to win the annual Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) award.

The house was designed alongside Graeme’s late colleague David Jamieson. Owner Peter Drummond used the energy-efficient plans for the self-build property, which was designed to fit in with the surrounding landscape, and the property has subsequently been nominated for several design awards.

The house is linked to the adjoining garage yet each has a separate roof form, and the interior is simple, open and full of light. The materials palette for the building, like its form, is a careful response to its setting.

Drummond House is inspired by the agricultural buildings in the area and Graeme decribes it as 'a contemporary and playful re-interpretation of a rural barn, configured as a very sophisticated contemporary dwelling.'

'Obviously I’m delighted to be awarded this prestigious honour,' he continued. 'It is excellent for the School of Architecture to receive a significant award in the world of architecture.'

Sunand Prasad, from Riba, said: 'The Riba awards are a thermometer to indicate the state of health of British architecture and for 2009 the results are good - both quality and quantity have been maintained.'

The winners will all now be shortlisted for the Riba Stirling Prize, which identifies the building judged to have made the greatest contribution to British architecture, and which will be presented on Saturday, 17 October, live on Channel 4.

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Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
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