Latest news with #PtolemyDean
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Two castles and a prison on RIAS best buildings list
Eleven buildings have been named as winners of the annual Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) awards. The buildings include two restored castles, a road bridge, a whisky distillery and Scotland's newest prison and young offender 11 winners will now become the "longlist" for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland shortlist will be announced in July ahead of the winner being revealed in November. Aldourie Castle, Loch Ness, by Ptolemy Dean Architects The Category A-listed Aldourie Castle has been conserved and all the surrounding estate buildings restored as well as new ones added, including farm buildings, an energy centre, a boathouse and a pedestrian bridge. The judges admired how the project reconnected the disparate buildings to their romantic setting. Caoghan na Creige, Isle of Harris, by Izat Arundell The stone-clad building blends into the rugged Hebridean landscape, giving the home the appearance of a modern-day blackhouse. The judges described the project as a testament to what can be achieved through patience, skill and a profound respect for place. Ellengowan Regeneration, Dundee, by Collective Architecture Ellengowan Regeneration replaces 124 deteriorating flats with 130 affordable is a mix of housing including accessible flats, cottage flats, family terraced houses and a corner shop. The judges praised the project's inclusive approach which balances modern needs with heritage preservation. Fairburn Tower, Muir of Ord, Highland by Simpson & Brown Architects Built in the 16th Century and added to in the 17th, this remote Category A listed structure had fallen into a ruinous state. The judges described Fairburn Tower as an exemplar project, where restoration and reconstruction are beautifully accomplished, while also delivering characterful holiday accommodation. Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge, Gairnshiel, Aberdeenshire by Moxon Architects The Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge provides a new route over the River Gairn, eliminating the lengthy detours and delays caused by frequent structural damage to the 18th Century crossing as it was no longer suitable for modern-day traffic. The judges described the project as a fine example of how to integrate a modern vehicular bridge into a sensitive landscape. HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Stirling by Holmes Miller Architects The building is billed as a "fundamental rethinking of custodial environments in Scotland".It supports women in custody through spaces that are intended to promote dignity, equality and meaningful judges praised it as a model of how public buildings can be both operationally robust and deeply humane. Kinloch Lodge, Lairg, by GRAS Kinloch Lodge is a "light-touch" conservation project which aims to maintain the charming and idiosyncratic nature of the original mid-19th Century lodge and its said each has been lovingly, painstakingly and respectfully restored exactly as they were found, using traditional methods and judges said the architects' involvement is refreshingly understated and thoroughly respectful of the original buildings. The Nucleus Building, University of Edinburgh, by Sheppard Robson The building is described by RIAS as a new heart for the University of Edinburgh which unites teaching, learning and social spaces. The judges described the Nucleus Building as a deftly executed piece of civic architecture. Riverside Primary School, Perth, by Architype Riverside Primary School is the first Passivhaus-certified school in judges described it as an exemplary project, which will serve as an inspiring model for the design of schools in Scotland and across the UK. Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk, by MLA The Rosebank Distillery had been considered lost but it has been carefully jury was impressed by the design team, who navigated complex constraints including contamination, conservation, coal mining risk and listed structures. They said the retention and restoration of the chimney, lockkeeper's cottage and red-brick buildings reflect a commitment to memory and place. Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen, by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design RIAS said this transformation of a long-neglected civic space reclaimed Union Terrace Gardens as Aberdeen's green heart. The judges praised the project as a benchmark in public-realm regeneration, demonstrating the power of sensitive, people-centred design to transform a city's sense of place.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Camilla unveils foundation stone for new Westminster Abbey building
The Queen has unveiled the foundation stone for a major new project at Westminster Abbey, a place she described as 'very special'. Camilla returned to the site of the King Charles III Sacristy, which aims to transform the welcome offered to millions of visitors, and marvelled at the concrete floor covering the preserved skeletal remains of ancient burials she had seen previously. In an impromptu speech to the project's donors, supporters and the Abbey's chapter, the Queen spoke about her visit last autumn in her role as patron of the £13 million project. She said: 'I just want to say how delighted I am to unveil this foundation stone, I can't believe the last time I was here – there's now a floor – the last time I came here there were quite a lot of skeletons. 'I just hope that in 2026 when it's due to finish, God willing my husband and I will be back here again to open the King Charles III Sacristy.' Among the guests were Thomas van Straubenzee, godfather to the Prince of Wales's daughter Princess Charlotte, Paul Ramsbottom chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, and venture capitalist Matt Cohler. The building is being constructed on the footprint of Henry III's medieval Great Sacristy built in the 1250s close to the Abbey walls, and after the unveiling the Queen told the project's architect Ptolemy Dean: 'It's full speed ahead.' The development is near to the Abbey's north transept, used as the current visitor entrance, and will allow the public to follow a path around the perimeter of the building and enter via the Abbey's Great West Door – the ceremonial entrance used for royal weddings, funerals and coronations for centuries. The Sacristy will house a state-of-the-art welcome, security and ticketing facilities, allowing the Abbey itself to be preserved as a sacred space with chairs and other objects stored in the new building and not in the Abbey. At one point as Camilla met Abbey staff within the place of worship she told the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle: 'I love this place, it's just very special.' The Queen also chatted to broadcaster and TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, an ambassador for the project, and said about her first visit to the site: 'It was full of skeletons, it was quite spooky – wasn't it?' Titchmarsh said later: 'It's such an exciting development and the fact it's going to free up space in here and put this back to a fully functioning place of worship (is important). 'It will add to the experience, that everybody will be able to come in the west door – you will stand yards away from the coronation chair.'
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Queen Camilla visits Westminster Abbey to unveil a foundation stone in tribute to King Charles - and catches up with her TV star pal
Queen Camilla looked to be enjoying the sunshine as she visited Westminster Abbey on Wednesday morning to unveil a foundation stone for a building that has been constructed in honour of her husband, King Charles. The royal, 77, travelled to the Westminster to view the earliest stages of The King Charles III Sacristy, which is currently being built next to the historic Abbey. The Queen looked regal as she stepped out in an elegant polka-dot monochrome Fiona Clare couture maxi dress, teamed with comfortable black heels and a matching clutch bag. To accessorise, the queen sported her glitzy £4,500 Van Cleef & Arpels 18 carot gold bracelet featuring the famous blue clover motifs and donned chic pearl earrings. She wore her signature platinum blonde tresses down in a wavy blow-dry and opted for natural makeup with a hint of pink lipstick. Camilla, who is patron of the Westminster Abbey Sacristy Project, was welcomed by the Dean of Westminster and met the architect behind the plans, Ptolemy Dean. The new structure will be home to the welcome, ticket and security facilities to help shift footfall away from the Abbey itself in order that it is left as a sacred place. The Queen also joined a ceremony at the Sacristy site, which included prayers and a performance by the Abbey Choir. Camilla beamed as she unveiled the foundation stone and gave a short speech after laying the rock. The Sacristy is being built on the footprint of the medieval Great Sacristy, which was built in the 1250s. It's where monks used to keep vestments, altar linens, and other sacred items used in daily worship. Westminster Abbey was consecrated in 1269 and has always played a significant part in the lives of the Royal Family. It attracts millions of tourists every year and has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066, while also hosting 16 royal weddings; some former monarchs, such as Elizabeth I, are buried there. The Queen also toured Westminster Abbey, met with staff and took a look at the updated Brontë sisters memorial. Writers Charlotte, Emily, and Anne's names were printed on the Abbey 85 years ago but they were spelt wrong, reading 'Bronte' instead of 'Brontë'. This was updated in September last year to add the diaeresis, following uproar from fans of the literary siblings. Queen Camilla also met up with her old pal Alan Titchmarsh, who is also an Ambassador to the Sacristy Project. The pair joined a reception with those who have worked on the building. The royal is good friends with the gardening presenter and even appeared on an episode of Gardeners' World with Alan in 2021. Camilla and Charles are known for being interested in nature, sustainability and the environment with them taking great pride in their gardens at Highgrove. The queen also met with Thomas van Straubenzee, a global property businessman, who is one of Prince William's closest friends and Princess Charlotte's godfather. This visit comes as Queen Camilla became emotional at a charity function on Tuesday evening when a video was shown of her late brother. She was attending a reception and awards ceremony for Elephant Family, set up by Mark Shand, who tragically died aged just 62 and falling and suffering a head injury in 2014. The glittering and star-studded event at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, West London, attracted guests including Princess Beatrice - who looked stylish in a red Rebecca Vallance gown - Lady Marina Windsor, Ronaldo Nazario, the Brazilian footballer, actors Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson and Sophie Ellis-Bexter. In an impromptu speech the King, who accompanied his wife as joint president of the charity, which is now part of Charles' British Asian Trust, said 'collaboration is far better than conflict' as he gave an impromptu speech. The royal is good friends with the gardening presenter and even appeared on an episode of Gardners' World with Alan in 2021 But it was the moment that Camilla, 77, wearing a cream tunic top with gold embroidery and cream palazzo trousers by Anna Valentine, watched a posthumous video of her brother in which he spoke about his 'optimism' for saving endangered elephants that brought her to tears. She was joined by her sister, Annabel Elliot, for the event. After presenting a conservation award on stage, Charles, appropriately wearing a tie with an elephant motif, made an off-the-cuff speech. He told guests: 'This evening is an opportunity as well to pay a special tribute, I think, to all the wonderful people who are doing all the work on the ground in India to rescue not just elephants now, but even more species as the trust and the [Elephant] Family develop an even greater ability to manage the human and animal conflict. 'And it just seems to me that this is a great example of why collaboration is far better than conflict and also why, if we're doing to rescue this poor planet from continuing degradation and restore some harmony to the proceedings, we must also understand that whatever we take and exploit from nature we need to give something back in return to enable nature to sustain us.' Charles and Camilla arrived at the Temperate Gate of the Royal Botanic Gardens in West London where they were met by a stilt walker dressed as a peacock before moving straight into a private reception for 50 guests at the Marianne North Gallery. They then walked down an avenue which was flanked by 30 egg sculptures which were part of the Big Egg Hunt, a scheme where 123 eggs were placed along a public trail across London to raise awareness of the wildlife charity.
