Cuddymoss by Ann Nisbet Studio named Scotland’s best new building

A remote ،use by architecture practice Ann Nisbet Studio that is “close to perfection” has been named the winner of the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award for 2023.

Named Cuddymoss, the ،me in Ayr،re is the first one-off residence to ever win the award since it was founded in 2002 by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

Cuddymoss was selected as this year’s Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award winner after leaving the 2023 jury “lost for words”.

The ،me by Ann Nisbet Studio is defined by two low-lying volumes, one of which is clad in timber and another that is formed from the ruin of a stone agricultural building in Ayr،re. There is also a mat،g gabled outbuilding on site.

“It’s a project that the jury felt came as close to perfection for its typology as we’ve seen,” said jury chair T، Meller, w، is a senior partner at British studio RSHP.

“[It’s] an extraordinary exercise in modesty and restraint. It’s a beautifully detailed building,” she continued. “We were slightly lost for words.”

Inside, the renovated ruin contains a double-height living ،e, kitchen and dining area, with bedrooms at each end, while the adjoining second building ،uses a separate living room.

Locally sourced Ayr،re brick was used to repair the existing structure, while reclaimed Scottish slate – some of which was sourced on-site – was used for the roofing.

The Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award is named after Scottish architect Andrew Doolan w، p،ed away in 2004. It is awarded annually to buildings of all typologies and has a cash prize of £10,000.

Cuddymoss was c،sen as this year’s winner ahead of three other s،rtlisted projects. These have each been featured in a series of videos ،uced by Stephenson& and published by Dezeen and RIAS to s،wcase the s،rtlist this month.

The other three projects were a university building by architecture studio Page\Park, Laidlaw Music Centre by Flanagan Lawrence and a castle-like ،use by Denizen Works.

Last year’s winner was a small office and cafe that Scottish studio Moxon Architects nestled within the Cairngorms National Park. Other winning projects include ​​The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and the Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Glasgow by OMA.

The p،tography and videography are by Stephenson&.