Celebrating Castle Mills
We opened the doors of our new home at Castle Mills in April 2019 and while Covid-19 has meant that we have remained closed for most of 2020, we're delighted that PagePark Architects has continued to gain awards and praise for transforming a derelict former factory into a state of the art printmaking studio. We can't wait to welcome our customers, communities and artists back to our building in 2021.
In the meantime, lets find out more about the awards given to our multi-faceted gem...
Edinburgh Printmakers was Highly Commended at the Civic Trust Awards in 2020. The project also came away with a second commendation in the Selwyn Goldsmith Award for Universal Design. This award is given to buildings that are responsive, flexible, welcoming, easy to use and occupy; allowing all to use with dignity and equality. Winning projects are considered to have gone beyond the minimum standards of the regulations, instead putting people at the heart of the project and showing exemplar design.
The project was shortlisted for the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Awards 2020. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, the awards were cancelled for this year, with all shortlisted projects being put forward for the 2021 awards.
At the 2020 Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards the project snapped up 'Building of the Year' as well as the 'Regeneration/Conservation' Award. The judges said: the regeneration of the existing Castle Mills Works acts as an anchor in perpetuity to the past whilst stunningly creating visibility and a presence for Edinburgh Printmakers. The design’s light touch, fabric first and honest approach to the building fabric, alongside the collaborative and commercially clever, future proofed and flexible approach to the building’s use is exceptional. The building and its architecture supports a community, a social agenda and creates social space – whilst celebrating a piece of Edinburgh’s industrial heritage.
These 2020 awards are in addition to previous accolades. In 2019 Edinburgh Printmakers was shortlisted in numerous prestigious architectural awards including 'Best building re-use' in the Blueprint Awards, best 'Refurbishment' in the Brick Awards and best 'Cultural Project' in the Architect's Journal AJ Architecture Awards. At the Glasgow Institute of Architects Awards 2019, the project won in the 'Leisure and Arts' category and was shortlisted for the Supreme Award.
The project won the award for best heritage project in the RICS Social Impact Awards and then went on to win 'Project of the Year Scotland'. These Awards celebrate the built environment's positive and transformational contribution to society. The judges noted The project has ingeniously inserted a range of public facing new uses into the building, respecting its fabric, character and heritage, and done so in a way that provides access for all throughout and which opens the building out to engage with its emerging surroundings. A multi-faceted gem.