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Design excellence for Scottish schools
25/02/2008
Scottish schools have designs on a good looking future - thanks to a Scottish Government school design programme.
The Architecture and Design Scotland Schools Programme will give all councils access to specialist, one-to-one, advice on their school building projects.
The three year scheme will involve:
- A Schools Design Champion promoting and inspiring good design in schools
- Tailored assistance for all councils to provide impartial advice on their school projects
- Design evaluations of some projects, reviewing the design process at key stages
Launching the programme, at The Lighthouse in Glasgow, Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
"Many things have a positive impact on pupils' learning but one of these is, undoubtedly, being taught in the right environment - one that is high quality, user friendly and well equipped.
"That's why we're funding Architecture and Design Scotland to work with councils to help them get the best results from their building programmes. By championing great design and providing support, they will be able to help share good practice throughout Scotland.
"Today is also the opening of the Senses of Place: Building Excellence presentation which highlights just what can be achieved by listening to the views of and working with those who will use the building - in this case pupils, teachers and members of the community.
"Using the Curriculum for Excellence - and the implications it will have for design and use of space in schools - as inspiration, schools from five councils have worked with architects to influence the design of learning spaces for the future and show what can be achieved through this approach.
"I hope this presentation will act as a starting point to enable people to consider how tomorrow's schools can meet the needs of tomorrow's community."
Architecture and Design Scotland champions good architecture, design and planning in the built environment. It works with local planning authorities and other organisations with an interest in Scotland's built environment at a local, regional or national level, initially focussing on housing, education and health buildings and the design of space between buildings.
To support the work of the Schools Programme, Architecture and Design Scotland will appoint a design advisor (architect) and a programme officer.
The government is providing £500,000 over three years to fund the scheme.
Senses of Place: Building Excellence was commissioned by the Scottish Government as part of the Building Excellence programme which ran throughout 2007. It will run at The Lighthouse until April 13.
Five councils were involved in the project - Argyll and Bute, West Lothian, Orkney, Stirling and North Lanarkshire. Each council looked at a different theme - large spaces, science education, learning communities, active play spaces for early years and spaces for children with additional support needs. Workshops were held with pupils, teachers, the wider community and council representatives before five design firms produced interpretations of these briefs for the exhibition.