Grand Designs /  by OCA Studio

Our 'Skerrie' House in Anstruther has a small feature in the May edition of Grand Designs magazine. This months edition also features articles on American Architect Tom Kundig, and coincidentally a house for Edinburgh based engineer David Narro who collaborated closely with OCA on the structure of the Skerrie House

Government seal of approval /  by OCA Studio

The Todlaw supported housing development has been included on the Scottish Government's webiste of 'inspirational designs'. This forms part of the government's agenda to promote good architecture and placemaking by showcasing the best of Scottish housing with the intention of inspiring others.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/AandP/InspirationalDesigns/ProjectType

OCA to host a Common Purpose event /  by OCA Studio

Civic leadership skill development organisation, Common Purpose, have asked OCA to host an event that will consider how the architectural profession is widening it's role to influence broader social and economic issues. Michael Collins and members of the City of Edinburgh's Planning Policy team will lead a discussion with twelve participants in early April

Kelpies Visitor Centre Collaboration /  by OCA Studio

Plant Architects, Toronto selected Oliver Chapman Architects as their partners to deliver the £1m Kelpies Visitor Centre project which will form part of the wider £41m Helix project near Falkirk. The commission entails creation of an internal public space within a 30m high Kelpie designed by sculptor Andy Scott, and an adjoining visitor pavilion. The Helix Project consists of 300 hectares of underused land between Falkirk and Grangemouth composed of woodland, a lagoon and parkland all interconnected via canals, walkways and cyclepaths. Five teams presented to the judges in February and the winning proposals will be announced in March. It is being funded by Falkirk Council, British Waterways, Central Scotland Forest Trust and the Big Lottery Fund.

Oliver Chapman Architects collaborates with UK and international practices who share their goal of design excellence, to design and deliver projects in Scotland.

Image credit: Plant Architects, Toronto

Schop Institute Events Website Launched /  by OCA Studio

Our 2012 programme of events goes live today.

www.schopinstitute.com.

Have a look at our 'Science and the City' talks and guided building visits for the Edinburgh Science Festival - and our International Summer School which we're running with our partners at Summerhall, Edinburgh's newest and most exciting performance and visual arts venue at the former Royal Dick Veterinary School.

Schop Institue is an educational foundation established to widen involvement in the debate about architecture and cities. It's educational programme is curated by Oliver Chapman Architects www.schopinstitute.com

OCA are working with the Forest to find a new venue /  by OCA Studio

It's great to be working with the Forest, Edinburgh helping them to find a new venue. Forest is a volunteer-run, collectively-owned, free arts and events organisation. They provide a dedicated space for people to get involved in any creative activity imaginable. Their events have included music, theatre, dancing, yoga, massage, poetry recitals, art displays, knit-ins, book tours, language teaching, monsterbike making…and plenty more. Please support their fundraising campaign to Save the Forest http://blog.theforest.org.uk/savetheforest

AJ Small Projects Award shortlists OCA's Skerrie House /  by OCA Studio

An extension of a fishing cottage in the East Neuk of Fife has been shortlisted for this year's small projects award orgainised by the Architects Journal. Shortlisted from 156 entries, the award has grown to become the UK's main opportunity to showcase the best architecture for commissions below £250,000 in value.

The Courier project completed in Haddington /  by OCA Studio

The Courier Building in Haddington has now been completed. The B Listed Maltings formerly home to the Courier newspaper's offices and printing works has succesfully been converted by OCA for East Lothian Housing Association to use as their offices as well as an additional 14 sustainable and affordable apartments.

The project has also been featured in urban realm- http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3235/Haddington_landmark_given_fresh_lease_of_life.html

3 Nations and After Dark | Presentations of the work of OCA & Schop Institute /  by OCA Studio

Oliver Chapman was invited by the Dutch Embassy and Buro Happold to speak at the 3 Nations conference in London. This was an initiative to share experiences of being a small practice for architects from England, Scotland and the Netherlands.

Oliver was also the guest speaker at the City of Edinburgh Council's 'After Dark' lecture series where he discussed how the practice is widening its role with its sister organisation Schop Institute.

Doors Open Day /  by OCA Studio

The Cockburn Association have organised this year's Edinburgh Doors Open Day which will run over the weekend Saturday 24th + Sunday 25th September 2011. OCA will be represented at three different locations:

Trinity Garden Room - Saturday from 2 - 5pm

Schop - Saturday from 2 - 5pm

Baha'i Faith Centre - Sunday from 2 - 5pm

Please see website for more details: http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/default.asp?page=120

RIAS Accreditation in Sustainable Architecture /  by OCA Studio

Oliver Chapman has been awarded the RIAS Accreditation in Sustainable Architecture in recognition of the practice's design excellence in this field.

The practice's low carbon housing at Scotland's Housing Expo and the affordable housing in Duns, Berwickshire were acknowledged as projects which demonstrated Oliver's commitment to sustainable design.

Cast Collection Conference /  by OCA Studio

The Edinburgh College of Art are hosting an international conference focusing on the Cast Collection between 9th-11th September 2011. Events include an opening reception with Lord Bruce (11th Earl of Elgin) + Councillor Deidre Brock. Guest speakers include Professors Charles McKean + Stephen Bann, Ian Gow and John Lowrey.

OCA Associate Director, Mark Cousins, will speak on the topic of ‘Accommodating Nike’ and the design of the proposed new gallery.

'Growing Capital' /  by OCA Studio

Summer School Day One | Follow our regular posts on our Facebook site (Oliver Chapman Architects) | Welcome to our team from Spain. After introductions, we are heading straight into our lively programme of discussions and design exercises. . . but only after a lunch time leg stretching stroll up Arthur's Seat. Great initial chat around our theme 'Architecture and Crisis' that included observations about how 'crisis' can be interpreted at different scales - from wholesale change in a city's planning down to the stresses of occupation during an event like the Edinburgh Festival.

Schop's Third Year in Edinburgh Art Festival /  by OCA Studio

Schop are delighted to announce that their proposed summer exhibition by Nick Sargent will feature as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF) programme for 2011.

Entitled 'A Scottish Land': an exhibition by Nick Sargent, the exhibition principally comprises a large site specific painted embroidered canvas both titled and depicting 'An unknown view of a Scottish landscape by two unknown artists'.

It will open on 4th August and run until 7th October 2011, Schop's third year in EAF

Summer School 'Growing Capital' /  by OCA Studio

Oliver Chapman Architects and Schop are organising a two week workshop titled 'Growing Capital' aimed at international architecture students keen to develop their written and spoken English and participate in a design workshop which explores contemporary issues that affect the historic city of Edinburgh.

The project will interrogate the city's fragility, not just its vulnerable built fabric and its economic dependancy on tourism and financial services, but also its sense of confidence and identity on the fringes of Europe.

www.schop.org.uk

RIBA Awards 2011 Shortlist /  by OCA Studio

The RIBA Award judging panel attended a visit of the low carbon affordable housing at Todlaw, Duns earlier today. The judging panel consisted of George Ferguson CBE PPRIBA, Ferguson Mann Architects (Jury Chair), David Dunbar PRIAS, Daphne Thissen (Lay Assessor) and Neil Baxter (Secretary of the RIAS).

This second phase of 12 flats sits across the road from our earlier supported housing scheme which won an RIBA Award in 2008. It's low carbon index, only 15kg/m2 is achieved by good airtightness detailing, high levels of insulation and vertical bore hole ground source heat pumps that extend 70m into the ground.

Lilliputian Museum Matrix /  by OCA Studio

This installation in Schop by Thomas Mason (until 18th March) references the Cabinets of Curiosity of the classical era. The work comprises a collection of miniature museums inhabiting Edinburgh’s historic police boxes. Each box houses a succinct collection of Scottish artifacts, ranging from Sir Walter Scott’s printing type, to the ancient Lewis Chessmen.

In a city which can be considered a museum itself, the miniaturization aspect causes us to question the nature of museums as they themselves become the objects on display.

Edinburgh Printmakers /  by OCA Studio

Oliver Chapman Architects are delighted to be preparing proposals for Edinburgh Printmakers. The proposals aim to maximise the potential of the existing workshop premises on Union Street; a former 'steamie' or washhouse, to provide enhanced exhibition and areas for a range of printing types. Proposals include, a new public gallery space in the basement, digital and manual printing facilities, and a new cafe and reception area.Edinburgh Printmakers