Regeneration Frameworks for 4 of Glasgow City Centre Districts are being published online for final consultation. These Districts comprise the north-east half of central Glasgow and complement the 5 District Regeneration Frameworks (DRF) already approved by Glasgow City Council.

The 4 draft DRFs and the draft North-East Districts Combined Strategy reports are available here > https://www.glasgowconsult.co.uk/KMS/dmart.aspx?strTab=PublicDMartCurrent&NoIP=1

Anyone with an interest in the future of Glasgow city centre is encouraged to participate in this online consultation which is open from 20 January until 3 March 2023, with survey details available via this link > https://www.glasgowconsult.co.uk/project/909

District Regeneration Frameworks > Handbooks for Change

Austin-Smith:Lord have led the team appointed by Glasgow City Council to prepare these 4 District Regeneration Frameworks, alongside Studio for New Realties and in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team listed below.

This follows on from Austin-Smith:Lord leading the preparation of the previous phase of 4 DRFs for Broomielaw, Blythswood, St. Enoch and Central Districts, alongside MVRDV and a multi-disciplinary team. These were adopted by Glasgow City Council in 2019/20 and are available online (see link).

These DRFs are 10-year regeneration plans with a series of short, medium- and long-term actions that combine strategic planning and placemaking with shorter-term operational and environmental improvements.  The frameworks were developed over an 18-month period based upon an evidence base, tested throughout the process by community and stakeholder engagement.  Almost 11,000 people have participated in DRF engagement so far.

Each District Regeneration Framework is intended to be a Handbook for Change setting out practical steps to enhance everyday quality of life for those who live, work, study in and visit the City Centre.

The Handbooks are focused on encouraging action and enabling partnership working to deliver sustainable change in each place. Action Plans suggest who should work with whom to make change happen and how to align projects with funding and investment.

The North-East Districts

The 4 Districts being consulted on now cover 280 hectares of Glasgow City Centre comprising Cowcaddens, Townhead, the Learning Quarter (including the Universities, College, Infirmary and Cathedral), and Merchant City (with Calton / Barras).

Many of these Districts have been under appreciated, or overlooked in recent times. Nevertheless this half of central Glasgow has amazing attributes, assets and great potential to contribute to a distinctive, sustainable, vibrant and healthy city centre.

The Handbooks cover getting the basics right – ensuring we look after what we have and support and nurture existing positive activity – as well as considering projects from large scale and ambitious to smaller scale, local quick wins.

Transforming the North-East Districts

Across all of the Districts there are recurring themes and objectives and these are set out in a Combined Handbook. Headline objectives include;

Living Well, Locally – supporting and enhancing neighbourhoods, so that existing communities have convenient access to local services and amenities supported by new residents attracted to live in quality, mixed tenure city centre housing

Working with What We Have – appreciating, restoring and reinterpreting our heritage and repurposing under occupied spaces and buildings to support new and mixed uses, nurture local and diverse culture and celebrate these distinctive Districts

Collaboration, Culture and Creativity – maximising the potential of existing anchor and cultural institutions including the Universities, College, Arts School and Conservatoire, Infirmary and Cathedral quarter, creative industries and the climate neutral Innovation District to sustain positive change in the local area

Supporting a Diverse Economy – creating a mixed use city centre that is sustainable and resilient – nurturing existing businesses and creative innovators – to support a thriving local economy that plays to existing strengths, creates and sustains new skills and jobs

A Dear Green Place – improving open and green spaces, and transforming vacant and derelict land, to connect communities, provide access to restored nature and promote health and wellbeing

Dissolving Barriers and Connecting Communities – restoring lost connections between the City Centre, the East End and North Glasgow by rejuvenating the High Street and public spaces, dissolving the severance caused by the M8 and extending the Great Streets linking the City Centre to surrounding communities

Sustainable Mobility – promoting walking, wheeling, and cycling with seamless, safe and attractive path networks to create (S)low Traffic Neighbourhoods and enhancing the city’s integrated public transport systems to enable convenient access to the City Centre for all

Climate Change and Infrastructure – embedding sustainable infrastructure, circular economy and planning principles to deliver integrated digital and clean energy networks, nature-based solutions and retrofitting the Districts to contribute to a net zero city centre.

Distinctive Districts – proposing place-mending through careful interventions that appreciate and celebrate the distinctive identity of each District, their role in the city region and how they can retain what makes them special whilst contributing to a thriving and sustainable City Centre.

Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “The eastern and northern areas of our city centre are home to some of our more established residential communities, learning institutions and businesses, but they also have so much potential for positive regeneration.

These District Regeneration Frameworks will help guide future development and investment, and the final Action Plan will ensure that activity is taken forward in a way that complements regeneration happening elsewhere in the city whilst building on each district’s unique character.

As such, it is important that local people, organisations and stakeholders take part in the new public consultation and help determine what the priorities should be for the future of these key city centre districts.”

Graham Ross, CEO at Austin-Smith:Lord and Lead Consultant for the (Y)our City Centre DRFs project, said: “These District Regeneration Frameworks are intended to be handbooks to guide positive change in Glasgow city centre. A thriving, attractive and sustainable city centre is vital for Glaswegians, and for the economic, social and cultural health of the city region and Scotland.

Each Handbook seeks to identify projects and actions that should be progressed to enhance the everyday quality of life in these Districts. They have been prepared in collaboration with local communities; resident, business, charities, civic and cultural groups, landowners and developers, local and national agencies.

Anyone who lives, works, studies in or visits the city centre or has a passion and interest in Glasgow is invited to engage in this final round of consultation. Please share your ideas, offer support and indicate how you can help play a part in delivering the changes necessary to ensure Glasgow thrives in the 2020s and beyond.”

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(Y)our City Centre Team – Phase 3 (2020-22)

Glasgow City Council City Centre Regeneration: Client

Austin-Smith:Lord: Lead Consultants / Local Urban Design (Urbanism, Landscape, Architecture)

Studio for New Realities: Urban Strategy / Design Lead

Urban Movement: Urban Mobility, Transport Planning, Active Travel

WAVEparticle: Creative Community Engagement

Stantec: Economic Consultants

Ryden: Property Advisers

Useful Projects: Urban Sustainability

Space Syntax: Spatial Economics / Data Analysis

Civic Engineers: Sustainable Engineering

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Further information on the project can also be found at the link below:

(Y)our Future City Centre : after COP26, Glasgow starts here

The recently completed £8m redevelopment of Aberdeen Railway Station was officially opened by Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth on 5th December. Ms Gilruth joined Alex Hynes, Scotland’s Railway Managing Director, for the event.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s design for the redevelopment project has been delivered by Morrison Construction over two years, with the final stage of work seeing the relocation and refurbishment of the ticket office and first-class lounge.

The relocation of the ticket office and first-class lounge – which can be used by ScotRail, LNER, and Caledonian Sleeper customers – to the main concourse has created an improved ticket retail environment and enhanced customer experience which has made way for the addition of new high value retail space. The existing concourse retail units were also refurbished, with new modern glazed areas added to the front of the units, as part of the project.

The redevelopment work – which was funded by Scottish Government, ScotRail, Network Rail, the Railway Heritage Trust, and Serco – has seen other significant changes to the look and feel of the station, which has sat in the heart of Aberdeen city centre for more than 150 years.

Four new customer information screens have been installed on the main concourse, where ScotRail staff will also be available to advise customers on train services, journey times, and connections at a designated information booth.

Staff accommodation and additional operational areas have been created around the station to support future growth in passenger numbers.

The train operator worked in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust to restore the North Corner Pavilion Building – a significant A-listed building and a link to the classic age of rail and the days of steam locomotives – which had fallen into disrepair.

Repair work was sympathetic in order to keep the look of the pavilion as close as possible to that of the original building. Some pre-existing materials were recycled and the solid granite treads in the Guild Street entrance were removed and modified in order to use the granite for the new stairs.

The station entrance and connectivity with Union Square and the wider Aberdeen city centre has also been improved, with new, illuminated signage installed to re-establish the station’s identity within Union Square. Improvements have also been made to the taxi rank area, and enhanced cycle parking has been installed with space for 88 cycles in a covered area within the car park along with a Cycle Point maintenance area.

Work to replace the glass roof at Aberdeen station was completed by Network Rail Scotland in 2020.

Jenny Gilruth, Minister for Transport said:
“It’s great to be here today to see at first-hand how the Scottish Government’s £6m contribution is helping people travelling to and from Aberdeen make full use of the upgraded Aberdeen Station. I’d like to thank all the partners involved in this project which shows how transformational change can be delivered collectively.

“At a time when we seek to encourage more people out of their cars onto rail, this project is an excellent example of the way in which the public sector and the industry can build a modern railway that is more attractive to existing and potential passengers.”

Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to see the redevelopment of Aberdeen station now complete and officially open.

“Our engineers, contractors, project and station teams have done an excellent job in delivering better facilities for customers and railway staff, which have helped modernise this historic and iconic station.

“We know the more we make rail an attractive, safe, and secure transport choice, the more people will consider using the train as an alternative to the car. This investment is a key part of our plan to deliver a more modern railway for Scotland as we continue to encourage more customers back after the pandemic.”

Image credits: Scotrail/SNS

We are delighted for our client ScotRail after the refurbishment of the North Corner Pavilion received a National Rail Heritage Award at today’s ceremony.

Funding of the extensive refurbishment undertaken to arrest decay of the 100 year old building fabric, upgrade/replace fire escapes and provide of a lift to improve accessibility and ensure the property is “tenant ready” is applauded. The North Pavilion provides a tangible link to the period of time of great rail usage and the days of steam locomotives and grand terminals and is a highly significant piece of Architecture within the context of Scotland’s 3^rd largest city.

Austin-Smith:Lord provided Lead Design Consultant, Architecture, Interior Design and Conservation Services. The North Pavilion formed part of a larger £8m development of the station that included the creation of new facilities for passengers, staff and new configured space for commercial lease.

We are delighted to be selected as one of forty businesses across Glasgow to receive a fully funded work placement, providing a hands-on resource focused on progressing our own net zero ambitions.

Launched just before the anniversary of COP26, Step Up to Net Zero is being delivered by Circular Glasgow, an initiative of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, and is specifically designed to help meet the city’s net zero and circular economy targets while providing employability support for Glasgow’s workforce.

Step Up to Net Zero has undertaken an assessment for Austin-Smith:Lord to identify circular and net zero opportunities and has developed a bespoke Action Plan with recommendations for circularity, carbon reduction and waste management.

With assistance from Circular Glasgow, we are now in the process of recruiting a candidate to oversee the plan’s implementation for four months and work hand in hand with their colleagues at Austin-Smith:Lord to drive the Action Plan forward.

Catherine Cosgrove, Sustainability Lead at Austin-Smith:Lord said “We’ve enjoyed working with the Step Up to Net Zero team and discussing how we can make progress on our own net zero targets. They’ve already been able to help us identify several aims that we can meet quickly and will make a difference to how we work. We’re looking forward to meeting other companies working on this initiative and learning from their experience.”

Chief Executive Graham Ross added “Austin-Smith:Lord are delighted to receive this vital support from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Circular Glasgow. It feels like a gamechanger in terms of capacity building and skills development for Net Zero businesses in Glasgow. We adopted a Net Zero Emissions by 2030 target in 2021. The support offered through the Step Up to Net Zero initiative will enable us to make substantial progress, capturing and analysing data and embedding Net Zero actions into our Business Planning.”

Further information on the placement available at Austin-Smith:Lord, including responsibilities and how to apply, can be found at the following link:

https://www.circularglasgow.com/vacancy/step-up-to-net-zero-coordinator-austin-smithlord/

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If your business could benefit from the funded support from Step Up to Net Zero, please get in touch with Circular Glasgow via the following page: www.circularglasgow.com/step-up-to-net-zero/

As part of the COP26 legacy programme led by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Circular Glasgow, Austin-Smith:Lord have been selected to join Glasgow’s Climate Heroes network, supporting the Developing the Young Workforce programme to inspire young people to contribute to the future green economy.

Throughout the (Y)our City Centre District Regeneration Frameworks project for Glasgow City Council the project team engaged with young learners across city centre schools as part of community co-design activities to inform future plans for central Glasgow. Following up this activity Austin-Smith:Lord fulfilled additional community benefits / social value commitments and reinforced the relationship with St. Mungo’s Academy in the city’s inner East End.

In the past academic session, as part of the Climate Heroes / My Climate Path programme with St. Mungo’s, Austin-Smith:Lord delivered a series of 6 workshops for two cohorts of young learners as they developed creative ideas to repurpose and reinvigorate (Y)our High Street. We also arranged for six S4 pupils to visit the Architecture Department at University of Strathclyde, receiving a guided tour from senior tutors and getting an insight into University life. We were very grateful for the time and guidance provided by colleagues at the University, with whom A-S:L have a Knowledge Exchange agreement in place. As part of our ongoing commitment to promote the design professions and construction industry to young learners we also continue to support the University’s ‘Experience of Practice’ initiative for students.

In this academic session A-S:L are extending our engagement with St. Mungo’s Academy and the Climate Heroes campaign with a further series of workshops for most year groups including ‘Say Hello to Sustainable Architecture’ workshops, facilitating visits to our studio in central Glasgow, hosting work experience placements and hopefully a return visit to University of Strathclyde. We are also hoping to help young learners at St. Mungo’s by inviting them to consider creative ways in which to adapt their school campus and local area to address the climate emergency, developing skills in design and confidence in visual and verbal communication.

This week, as part of Scottish Careers Week, A-S:L are also participating in St. Mungo’s Academy Careers Fair, as well as giving a keynote presentation to the Climate Heroes Circular Networking Lunch on Friday 11 November. This follows on from A-S:L being invited by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to participate in a recent roundtable discussion with senior Scottish Government civil servants considering ways to develop the skills and confidence of young learners to enable them to fulfil their potential and contribute to the creative and green economy. The session reflected on the positive impacts and lessons to learn from Glasgow’s progress towards achieving the ambition of 100% positive destinations for school leavers, and the success of programmes such as Developing the Young Workforce in schools, Step Up Glasgow, Digital Critical Friends (supported by Scotland IS), Glasgow’s #NoWrongPath campaign, the No One Left Behind strategy and the early stages of Climate Heroes.

Graham Ross, CEO at Austin-Smith:Lord said, “Our involvement in the Climate Heroes programme aligns with our own mission, vision and guiding principles. We’ve long been active advocates for sustainable design, highlighting the positive impact the design professions and construction industry must make to address the climate and biodiversity emergencies and championing life-long learning and knowledge sharing. The Climate Heroes programme neatly combines these agendas. It’s inspiring to work with young learners and encourage them to use their creativity and passion to influence their future and have a positive impact through their work.”

Congratulations to Tom Clarke on passing his Level 2 Accounting qualification with Distinction.

Tom Joined Austin-Smith:Lord as Finance Apprentice in September 2021 and has been an integral member of the Finance Team ever since.

“I’m delighted to have completed my Level 2 and I can’t wait to start Level 3 with the support of Austin-Smith:Lord” Tom Clarke, Finance Apprentice.

“Tom is a fantastic team member and this achievement is well deserved. Enjoy your journey to Level 3, Tom. Keep calm and carry on!” Allan Chan, Finance Director.

We are delighted to welcome three new RIBA Part II Architectural Assistants to our Practice:

Eleanor Kemp
Eleanor joined Austin-Smith:Lord’s Liverpool studio in August, having studied at Liverpool John Moores University. Before she joined us, Eleanor spent the summer working as a researcher at the same University, developing sustainable refurbishment research that focuses on the needs of cultural institutions within Liverpool.

Omkar Deshmankar
Omkar also joined us in August, and is based in our Glasgow studio. He completed his Architecture Degree at the University of Pune in India, and his Masters at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Omkar is passionate about nature and the environment, and loves travelling, hillwalking and photography.

Abbi Wallace
Abbi studied at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, before joining Austin-Smith:Lord at the end of August. Our one-studio approach enabled Abbi to relocate from Glasgow to Cardiff, where she is now based.

Executive Director, Martin Roe commented, “We are delighted to welcome Eleanor, Omkar and Abbi to the Austin-Smith:Lord team. Our upcoming Annual Staff Conference in Liverpool will be an ideal event for them to meet all of their colleagues in person and an early opportunity for them to influence the future shape of the practice as we focus this year on Telling Stories……”

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Austin-Smith:Lord Annual Conference, Liverpool 2022 – Telling Stories…………

We are really excited to share our proposals for the regeneration of Rother District Council’s Town Hall in Bexhill-on-Sea.

In 2019, Rother District Council declared a climate emergency and pledged for the Council to be net zero carbon by 2030. The Town Hall, which is the Council’s main administrative building is inefficient in terms of spatial logistics and energy performance emitting over 107tonnes of CO2 every year. The current facilities also provide an uninspiring work environment for a 21st Century civic and office building; this project seeks to address these issues.

The ambition is to deliver a high-quality facilities that: lead the way in demonstrating the Council’s pledge to be net zero carbon by 2030; provides a civic heart for Rother District; provides a befitting and inspiring civic space for local organisations in a central and accessible location; rethinks the workspace post-COVID-19 and provides a modern community services hub.

The main core of the Town Hall, which is over 120 years old and an asset of historical significance, will be retained and refurbished to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, provide a modern and attractive workplace that promotes accessibility, health and wellbeing and provides adaptability as working practices change and evolve. The development will also include a new extension, to the west of the main Town Hall, with an inviting flexible public-facing space on the ground floor, adaptable workspaces, breakout spaces and an attractively landscaped courtyard dealing with levels across the site and focussing on improving social engagement opportunities.

Austin-Smith:Lord, in collaboration with RXA, was appointed, through the South East Consortium Framework, by Rother District Council to provide architecture, interior and landscape design services.

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Many thanks to all the team:

Client: Rother District Council
Supporting Architects: RXA
Project Management and Cost Consultants: MGAC | RLF
Civil and Structural Engineers: Ingleton Wood
Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Sustainability Leads: Delap & Waller
Planning Consultant: Dowsett Mayhew
Framework Client: South East Consortium
CGIs and Animation: Infinite3D
Acoustic Consultants: AAD Acoustics
Fire Engineers: Marshall Fire
Transport Planner: GTA

The Porthcawl Terminus, designed by Austin-Smith:Lord, forms part of the metro enhancement framework for the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, which is seeking to develop improved links between Maesteg, Bridgend, Porthcawl and Cardiff as part of a pipeline of future transport projects.

Plans for a Metro-link development have been accepted as part of the ongoing development in Porthcawl.

The Metrolink – which will form part of the South Wales Metro, was recently included as part of the council’s new vision for the Salt Lake regeneration site. The proposed bus terminus put forward by Bridgend Borough Council will be built along The Portway, Porthcawl, next to Salt Lake car park.

The building will have 4 bays and a fully enclosed canopy and concourse – space for a small kiosk and various environmental enhancements including a green roof, rain garden and outdoor seating areas. The plans also include space for a future cycle hire facility.

Iain Wylie
BArch (Hons), DipArch, FRIAS, RIBA

Iain Wylie, architect and Executive Director at Austin-Smith:Lord died suddenly on 13 May 2022, aged 58.

Iain was a very highly respected and prolific architect with a reputation as a talented and versatile designer, a business leader and an advocate for design quality. Iain was a great friend to many within and beyond the design and construction professions in Scotland and further afield, respected for his kindness, integrity and professionalism.

Iain was instrumental in establishing and leading Austin-Smith:Lord in Scotland as well as being responsible for many of the Practice’s signature projects, especially north of the Border.

In recognition of his contribution to the profession Iain became a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland in 2014. Iain’s design work was recognised with national design awards throughout his career. He was also a Partner when Austin-Smith:Lord were awarded the prestigious Architects’ Journal’s AJ100 Practice of the Year in 2010.

Iain studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. His talent was apparent from the outset, winning a Scholarship in 1986, the first of many accolades in a career characterised by enduring excellence.

During his studies he completed his first professional training period at the acclaimed Irvine Development Corporation Architects Department, whose work Iain admired greatly. After completing his studies at Edinburgh College of Art, Iain continued his path to professional accreditation working at the Property Services Agency, initially with the flagship Design Standards Office in London before returning to Scotland to work on Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Iain then returned to Irvine Development Corporation in the early 1990s and was Project Architect on several award-winning projects within Irvine New Town, notably at Irvine Harbourside.

Initially as a secondee from Irvine Development Corporation, Iain joined Scottish Enterprise and Locate in Scotland responsible for numerous Inward Investment projects for major companies. Iain then progressed to becoming an Associate with TPS Consult, responsible for the development of their Glasgow office and designing electronics and advanced manufacturing facilities for blue-chip clients.

Having had two highly successful spells at Irvine Development Corporation, Iain had impressed colleagues and won the admiration of his future business partners. He had forged a strong personal and professional bond that endured for the rest of Iain’s life with his great friends and mentors; George Wren, Roan Rutherford and George Reynolds with whom Iain established a new practice; Wren Rutherford Austin-Smith:Lord in 1998 with studios in Ayr and then, from 1999, in Glasgow.

Not only was Iain thrilled to be in business with his mentors he was also delighted that the new joint venture was with Austin-Smith:Lord whose work he had long admired. Iain thrived in this new venture and became a Partner with Austin-Smith:Lord when Wren Rutherford fully merged into the wider practice in 2003.

Iain led the Austin-Smith:Lord team in Glasgow to grow to more than 25 strong within a decade, doing fine work across the country. Iain took great satisfaction in growing the practice, giving young and talented designers a chance and fostering great camaraderie within a creative studio environment.

Iain’s career and stature in the practice progressed rapidly as he not only delivered signature projects but also elevated the profile of Austin-Smith:Lord, especially in Scotland, and took on significant roles in leading the business, notably as a characteristically prudent and shrewd Finance Partner.

Iain was instrumental in guiding the business through a difficult period in the wake of the economic crisis in the late 2000s providing a steady resolve and unwavering commitment to the Practice, before becoming Chair of Austin-Smith:Lord in 2014; a role he fulfilled until 2020.

Iain was self-effacing and modest, and whilst he characteristically played down his skill and ability it shone through in his work, time and again. Iain led and was involved in designing award-winning housing and regeneration schemes, and flagship industrial projects as well as relishing the opportunity when at Austin-Smith:Lord to deliver education buildings (from pre-school nurseries and primary schools to university projects), and develop a deep knowledge and a passion for healthcare design.

In each decade of Iain’s career his work won national award recognition including from the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the British Council of Offices, the British Urban Regeneration Awards, the Saltire Society, Scottish Design Awards, Building Better Healthcare Awards, NHS Scotland Design Awards and the Glasgow Institute of Architects.

These awards were given for a diverse array of projects. In Irvine, whilst with the New Town’s Development Corporation, Iain created a careful composition of new housing skilfully linking the contemporary and the historic parts of the Harbourside masterplan. In Kilwinning, also in Ayrshire, a crisply detailed contemporary office pavilion secured a prestigious BCO Award.

A landmark super-distillery at Roseisle in Moray in 2010 pioneered integrated sustainable design and process engineering which has inspired a subsequent renaissance in distillery design, winning numerous accolades including RICS Project of the Year.

Iain’s design for Girvan Community Hospital skilfully nestles a substantial new healthcare facility into the South Ayrshire landscape to provide a positive gateway to the town by carefully modulating scale and materials appropriate to the setting. Migdale Community Hospital at Bonar Bridge deftly responds to a beautiful hillside setting, overlooking the sea loch, to sensitively integrate with the rugged, rural landscape of the Scottish Highlands.

In addition Iain was also involved in masterplanning hospitals and enterprise zones, waterfront masterplans on the Rivers Clyde and Forth, developing a vision for the Crichton campus in Dumfries, Wellington School campus in Ayr, historic buildings at Gartnavel, numerous projects at Quarriers care village, local health centres from Dalkeith to Drongan, a pioneering health and community hub in Kilmarnock, schools in Glasgow and Ayrshire, new workplace environments for Hewlett Packard, a University Library in Dundee, a massive energy centre at Severnside near Bristol, light industrial units near Galashiels and even designing a space-port facility and more besides.

Iain’s final project was for Ayrshire Hospice. It was the perfect job for him; to design a beautiful, caring environment for people in the area he loved. He was thrilled to be leading that project and it is hoped that, when realised, it will be a fitting legacy for a kind and caring man and a very talented architect.

Iain had the skill and humility necessary to collaborate with others to deliver designs and buildings of enduring quality. He had the compassion, tact and keen sense of fairness to be a natural and supportive leader. He had the integrity, commitment and determination to earn the respect and trust of his colleagues, peers and clients.

Iain had an easy charm, quick wit and keen interest in others. Iain’s easy-to-like and affable demeanour meant he was equally at ease in the company of anyone, from any walk of life. Iain simply enjoyed being with other folk and designing great buildings for them; taking the greatest pleasure in seeing great designs well built, having a positive impact and being enjoyed in use.

Beyond his skill and talent as an architect and designer Iain was also an accomplished sportsman, playing football semi-professionally and enjoying many other sports as a participant or spectator. A proud Scot he had a love of international travel but was always happiest at home in Ayrshire enjoying life as a great family man with his beloved wife Janet, their daughter Jemma and son Ross, amongst his wider family and many friends.

Iain William Wylie, architect

1 December 1963 – 13 May 2022

 

Obituary by Graham Ross