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Scottish Tour: Architecture – Buildings in Scotland

Focus on key Architectural Developments in Scotland – built environment updates.

post updated 4 September 2024

e-architect select the best examples of Scottish Architecture. We cover completed Scottish buildings, new building designs, architectural exhibitions and architecture competitions across the country. The focus is on contemporary buildings in Scotland.

We have numerous pages of Scottish Architecture selections.

Architecture in Scotland

Building News Scotland

photo of Eden Court : Keith Hunter

The two major recent buildings in Scotland are the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh by EMBT/RMJM and the Transport Museum in Glasgow by Zaha Hadid Architects (since renamed the Riverside Museum).

Other recent key buildings in Scotland include the Museum of Scotland (extension) in Edinburgh by Benson + Forsyth and the Radisson Hotel in Glasgow by gm+ad architects.

Most of the significant contemporary Scottish buildings have been built in the central belt but the proposed V&A in Dundee and the recent Aberdeen Library Building by SHL are exceptions. However there are also a number of Maggie’s Centres sprinkled around the country – in Kirkcaldy, Dundee, Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Wishaw.

Famous architects with buildings in Scotland include Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, Steven Holl and David Chipperfield, though none of the buildings represent their best work.

The latest major building is the expansion of Glasgow School of Art with a building by world-famous American architect Steven Holl. It has proved controversial partly due to its close proximity to Rennie Mackintosh’s most celebrated work but also partly due to its size – many feel it is too bulky and materials are too hard. Given the fine detail of the original building it will naturally be a predicament for today’s architects who eschew decoration, partly on cost grounds, partly as a philosophy.

Adrian Welch, e-architect Editor.

Scottish Walking Tours : Architecture Walking Tours

Scottish Buildings by Type

Scottish Architecture – Brief Overview

Scottish Architecture took a positive turn in the eighties thanks to the energy of architects such as Richard Murphy and then got a huge boost from the National Lottery – though so did the rest of the UK. No resting on laurels though, because despite one of the largest architecture prizes in the world, Scottish Architecture is not yet up there with Swiss, Spanish, Dutch or Japanese Architecture. One could of course analyse and then criticise each of the above but these countries have displayed strength of vision carried through into buildings of real quality.

Buildings in Scottish Cities

Aberdeen Architecture

Dundee Buildings

Edinburgh Architecture

Glasgow Architecture

Inverness Architecture

Perth Buildings

Stirling Architecture

Buildings from the last 30 years – Scottish Architectural Tour

The Tour is backed up by a huge database of resource, news & events.

e-architect also do walking tours of key architecture in Scotland. Contact us at info(at)e-architect.com to discuss your tour requirements.

These major buildings are also online at Scottish Architecture Tour with images and text

In Scotland there’s a range of buildings from the intricacy of Richard Murphy to the contextual manners of Malcolm Fraser, the refined rigour of Reiach and Hall to the bombast and drive of gm+ad (this architects practice is no more), from the dominant form-making of Page & Park to the heroic concrete building forms of Elder & Cannon and Gareth Hoskins’ elegant roofscapes, pictures of which belong on postcards. The Scottish Architecture Tour is backed up by a huge database of tours, news & events.

Scottish Architecture Links

Architecture + Design Scotland

Scottish Architects Practices

Scottish Landscape Architecture

Architecture Policy Scotland

Construction Scotland

Key Scottish Buildings

Glasgow School of Art

photo : Andrew Lee

Glasgow Transport Museum

image from architect

More New Scottish Architecture online soon

Location: Scotland

We have a huge range of Scottish building projects on the site, ranging from historic castles to modern houses and offices: Scottish Architecture Guide

Architecture Design Scotland News
Major new Scottish buildings and masterplans are monitored in Scotland by A+DS, the equivalent of CABE in England, with funding provided by the Scottish Executive who also support Scottish architecture by helping to fund The Lighthouse in Glasgow.

Best Building in Scotland Award
A major beneficiary to architecture in Scotland is the late Andrew Doolan and his generous award fund. The Best Building in Scotland £25k prize is awarded annually.

Scottish Design Awards
The Scottish Design Awards are a highlight in the architectural and design calendar. As ever the event aims to recognize the best graphic and architectural design in Scotland. It offers a unique platform from which designers and architects can come together to showcase their talent. No other awards process brings together these related though distinct disciplines, offering both sectors an opportunity to come together and applaud the achievements being made in the creative sphere.

Comments for Scottish Architecture Designs page welcome.