Students and recent graduates in the area of Architectural Conservation have received a number of prestigious awards this year.

1) Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) Student Awards
Anne Raines secured first place for her essay titled `Charles Rennie Mackintosh `I`m under a cloud - as it were``. The essay was written for the History of Scottish Architecture module, led by Prof. Ian Campbell, a component of the MSc in Architectural Conservation, Directed by Dr. Miles Glendinning.

Second place in the competition went to Alexandra Reddaway, a student in the MEng (Hons) Structural Engineering with Architecture degree, for her dissertation which describes her design for a visitor centre within the ruin of Holyrood Abbey church. Her supervisor was Dr. Dimitris Theodossopolous.

2) Patrick Geddes Awards
Anne Raines also received a prestigious Patrick Geddes Award for her MSc in Architectural Conservation dissertation titled `Wandel durch (industrie) kultur. Conservation and Renewal in Rhurgebiet`. The dissertation examined the regeneration of the industrial heritage of the Ruhrgebiet. Details of the award can be found at this LINK .

The judges said of her winning submission that it `provided an expansive, well researched narrative of the issues arising for conservation in an area of industrial decline and how through the development of a conservation ethic the normal approach of major demolition had been set aside in favour of a regionalisation of an ongoing process of conservation and change`.

A joint recipient of the award was Emma Rigg of the School of the Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University, a partner in ESALA, for her essay titled `Are Design Codes in Scotland promoting successful places through good urban design?`

The Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust promotes the study of living society in its environment, according to the principles and practice of Professor Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932). He was one of the first biologists to stress the prime importance of habitat in what would now be called ecology, using a method of survey and synthesis developed in Scotland, France, the Near East and India and based on the principle of `Place-Work-Folk`.

3) Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), Gus Astley Annual Student Award
This award goes to Emma Barnes (nee Speers) for her study on Northern Ireland`s vernacular buildings. The IHBC is the key professional body for built and historic environment conservation specialists. The judge, Dr Roger Bowdler, English Heritage’s Head of Designation, chose Emma Speers, graduate of the MSc in Architectural Conservation.

Emma’s work covered energy issues in Northern Ireland’s vernacular buildings. Dr Bowdler highlighted ‘the fluency of its discussion of the most pressing of topics, sustainability and the need to make better use of our inherited building stock’.

Further detail on this award can be found HERE .