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19 March, 2010
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Published: 21 August, 2008
THE redevelopment of Oversteps Eventide Home in Dornoch has won one of the three awards in a new design competition. Staff and residents at the Church of Scotland home are celebrating after the revamp was judged the best redevelopment of an old building in the North Highland section of the awards. Together with the two other section winners, both from Thurso, it will go forward to the final of the competition.Run by the Inverness Architectural Association, the awards aim to showcase examples of architectural excellence throughout the Highlands and Islands. Inverness architects White & McGinn drew up the plans for the recent major revamp of the 24-room home. Keith Edwards, who chaired the judging panel, said the design had retained the appearance of the period façade while involving an extensive and well-planned internal renovation. Present at the North Highland awards ceremony in Thurso's Swanson Gallery last Thursday were the home's management team Eileen Mackay and Tina Taylor. Eileen said: "The residents are delighted with the renovations – it's given them more independence. Every room is now en suite and the layout gives the residents more dignity and comfort." The award was presented by Mr Edwards to principal architect Joyce White. Oversteps took first spot ahead of the £4 million redevelopment of the former technical school at Golspie into Highland Council's new Sutherland's HQ. Mr Edwards said the renovation of the building was impressive and it had been adapted well for its new use. He believed that floodlighting would be a very desirable addition. Two designs for buildings in Thurso – one completed, one still on the drawing board – won the other two awards. They are the recently completed upmarket residential complex at Castle Gardens and the plans for a Centre for Energy and the Environment. Mr Edwards, who is chairman of the Moray Architects' Group, said he and his fellow judges had been impressed by the high standard of entries from Caithness and Sutherland. All 10 of the schemes shortlisted in the far north can be viewed at an exhibition in the Swanson Gallery (part of Thurso Library) until September 13. The Highland final is being held in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on November 14. Results in each category: New building: Winner –Castle Gardens, Thurso (Knight and McDonald Architects,Thurso). Commended – new house at Croft 15, Inverkirkaig, Lochinver (Dualchas Building Design, Skye). New life for old buildings: Winner – Oversteps Eventide Home, Dornoch (White & McGinn Architects, Inverness). Commended – Highland Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie (Colin Armstrong Associates, Inverness). Lost opportunities: Winner – Centre for Energy and the Environment, Thurso (HRI Architects, Inverness). Commended – Dornoch Amphitheatre, Dornoch (Neil Sutherland Architects, Inverness).
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