Spring 2025 Newsletter

OCA Studio has moved!

We are delighted to announce that we have moved to a new space, located on the creative floor at Codebase – across the corridor from Creative Edinburgh, with a glimpse of the castle from our window! As we say farewell to our St. Mary’s Street premises, backdrop to our award-winning design work for over fifteen years (as well as playing host to some wonderful discussions, exhibitions, and a fair few celebrations), we now have our sights set on this exciting next chapter as we join the vibrant community of creatives at our new home. In keeping with OCA tradition, we are still rooted in the Old Town, just a stone’s throw from the Cowgate where our founding director Oliver Chapman first started the practice over 20 years ago.

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As many of you will know, Oliver tragically passed away in March last year. While we have faced the challenge of navigating the loss of our much-loved founding director, mentor and friend, as a team we are proud to be continuing his legacy and ambition through our work on a diverse assortment of fantastic projects and look forward to sharing more of these with you in the coming months.

We are also thrilled to reveal that Oliver’s contribution to architecture and the built environment is to be captured in an upcoming publication by Richard Weston. We’ll keep you posted on progress on the book, which is due for release later this year.

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Although the most heart-breaking of years for the studio, 2024 saw us round up some wonderful projects. We helped transform some beautiful homes, including the retrofit and addition of a dormer to a charming cottage near the Meadows, the complete transformation of a 1980s flat in the heart of Edinburgh’s scenic Dean Village, and the extension of Victorian semi-detached houses in both Nottingham and Edinburgh’s Trinity.

Sciennes Road- Refurbishment and dormer extension to an early 20th century cottage.

Dean Village- Transformation of 1980’s flat.

Our expert work with communities and heritage buildings continued, with designs prepared for the magnificent St Monan’s Auld Kirk and wonderful community initiatives in Barthol Chapel and Colintraive (more details available on our Instagram). An important milestone was reached on North Sutherland Care Hub, with Stage 3 developed design submitted to NHS Highlands for sign-off.

St. Monan’s Auld Kirk- Conservation and reuse in collaboration with conservation architects Munro Allison.

North Sutherland Care Hub Dining Room- Image by Touch 3D

We have had a busy year of events too. Our housing work was both exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy and featured in RIAS Quarterly’s issue on “Rural Housing”. Martin was asked to speak about our approach to employee-ownership at the launch of the Scottish Government’s report on inclusive business models, and on our culture of participation and innovation at Prosper’s (Scottish Council for Development and Industry) annual “Productivity Matters” Conference. Our involvement with academia has continued too with Cat and Martin both teaching one day a week at the University of Edinburgh and Anna being invited to lecture about our work at the University of Dundee.

OCA’s entry to the 198th RSA Annual exhibition- Responding to Rural Communities

Martin speaking at Peer Works- discussing how OCA has cultivated a culture of participation and innovation.

As we look forward into this year, we are lucky to be continuing our work within Scotland’s heritage landscape with a variety of projects in the pipeline(including in the Old and New Town, Blacket and Morningside conservation areas), focusing on an attention to craft and improving energy efficiency with the aim of creating beautiful and sustainable places to live. If you have a project in mind, we offer an initial consultation service free of charge to discuss how we can help make your ideas a reality.

This is the first issue of our quarterly email newsletter which we hope you’ve enjoyed reading. For more regular updates on what we’re up to, you can follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.  

All the best from the OCA team.

Oliver Chapman

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of our founding director, Oliver Chapman.

Oliver cared deeply about his craft. His interest in architecture ran the gamut of the profession; city place-making to careful detailing; ideas and conversation; his care for his community, collaborators, students and colleagues; always exploring, learning and sharing.

While the time will come to talk about his legacy, right now we are feeling the loss of our mentor, colleague and friend. Our thoughts are with his wife Tessa and his family.

OCA is now an employee owned business

We’re celebrating our 25th year in practice by becoming an employee owned business and making some new appointments. Martin Lambie has been made a Director along with Oliver, and Cat Liggat and Anna McLuckie are now Associates acknowledging the wider team’s breadth of experience and vision for the practice’s bright future. With a wide ranging set of projects in our portfolio and on the drawing board, we’re looking forward with enthusiam to continuing our work with our clients, consultants, colleagues and friends.

Thanks for advice from Ralph Leishman, Blackadders, DBFM, Scottish Enterprise and David Narro.

OCA are hiring an RIBA Part II Architectural Assistant or a recently qualified Architect

We are looking for an Architectural Assistant or a recently qualified Architect to join our team and be involved in a variety of interesting projects.

We are a close knit team of like minded people who are looking for another architect to join us to help design and deliver some exceptional projects. We are an award-winning practice with a growing client base operating from premises in Edinburgh’s old town. For a relatively small practice we cover an interestingly wide range of projects including occasional domestic projects, various community-led projects, co-design events, and buildings for healthcare, leisure and culture.

The ideal candidate will be either an RIBA Part II Architectural Assistant or a recently qualified Architect. We look for people who are articulate, curious, creative and interested in design. We want good designers, good communicators and people who want to contribute as part of a team. The ability to produce top quality visuals is a must. The office uses Revit, Autocad, Sketch-up and Adobe Creative Suite packages, a knowledge of which would be preferred but is not essential.

Our studio is fast paced, friendly, focused and fun. It’s a great place to start and grow your architectural career.

To apply, please send us an introductory letter, a current CV and examples of work covering a range of appropriate skills to admin@ocarch.co.uk

Progress at Sciennes Road

We are delighted to have received planning approval for alterations to this detached cottage in Sciennes.

Rather than extending into the property’s mature rear garden, the proposals focus on making the most of the existing footprint; glazed openings to the ground floor provide a new connection to the outdoors, while a new dormer to the rear roof pitch allows for an enlarged bedroom and new bathroom to the upper floor.

Martin Lambie has qualified as a Certified Passivhaus Designer

OCA are delighted to announce that Martin Lambie has qualified as a Certified Passivhaus Designer, following his training with AECB & Peter Warm.

Passivhaus is an international design standard which slashes energy use from buildings, reducing their ecological footprint and delivering high standards of comfort and health. As a practice OCA will be looking to this standard in future projects to help us deliver very low/ net-zero carbon, high quality buildings for our clients.

Welome Cat and Marion

Catriona Liggat and Marion Richard have joined OCA.

Cat has experience running projects across all RIBA stages within a variety of sectors. She is passionate about promoting circular strategies and examining where these may be more holistically integrated within a project.

Marion completed her RIBA Part II qualification in 2017 and has experience working on a range of projects across all design stages, from £100k house extensions to larger £1-2 million residential and commercial schemes.

Progress at Primrose Bank Road

OCA have obtained planning permission for the alteration and extension of a Victorian semi-detached villa on Primrose Bank Road in Trinity, our second project on the street.

The proposals seek to modify and extend the existing single-storey rear annex to create an open, pergola-like structure as an interface between the solid masonry villa and its garden, forming a new connection to the outdoors via a new garden room and creating a smooth transition between the internal and external spaces.

We are excited to be taking this project forward in the coming months - watch this space!

The Egg Shed featured in the RIAS 2021 Doolan Awards Shortlist Showcase

Hear more about the Egg Shed at Ardrishaig from OCA Project Architect Anna McLuckie and Jill Malvenan from Scottish Canals as they reflect on the challenges and successes of the project as part of the 2021 RIAS Doolan Award shortlist showcase. Alongside four other projects the Egg Shed was shortlisted for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2021.

Videography by Zac and Zac, with thanks to the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

OCA are hiring an Architectural Technologist

We are looking for an experienced Architectural Technologist to help design and deliver some exceptional projects. We are an award-winning practice established twenty years ago, with a growing client base operating from premises in Edinburgh’s old town. For a relatively small practice we cover an interestingly wide range of projects in sectors varying from workplaces, healthcare, community and cultural uses, residential and individual domestic project.

We are looking for a motivated and well organised individual with excellent technical knowledge, construction detailing and communication skills, to join the friendly team. It is an excellent time to join our team.

Required skills & experience

·   A Chartered Architectural Technologist 5 [+] years post qualification experience.

·   Enthusiastic, flexible with a positive working approach.

·   Excellent experience of both refurbishment and new buildings, Design & Build and Traditional projects.

·   Good understanding & technical abilities of design and detailing.

·   Proficient in Revit and CAD and experienced in BIM process and application.

·   Working knowledge of NBS specification system.

·   Have some job running experience across all work-stages.

·   Good working knowledge of the Scottish Building Regulations.

·   Ability to undertake site inspections.

·   Personable, confident, & an excellent communicator

·   Full, clean UK driving license.

·   Language: English (Required), & currently possesses the right to work in the UK.

·   Full-time, Temporary

For the successful candidate this is a real opportunity to be a part of the Practice’s long-term future.

To apply, please send in your CV and examples of your work to admin@ocarch.co.uk. Direct applicants only

OCA are hiring an Architect with minimum three years experience

We are looking for an architect to join our team and be involved in a variety of interesting projects.

Oliver Chapman Architects is an award-winning practice with a growing client base. We operate from premises in Edinburgh’s old town. For a relatively small, growing practice we cover an interestingly wide range of projects including occasional small domestic projects various community-led projects, co-design events, and buildings for leisure and culture.

You should be an Architect registered with the ARB. Ideally you should have a minimum of 3 yrs professional experience.

You will likely be working on a multi-use project through the technical design and construction stages as well as being involved with upcoming feasibility studies.

We would particularly like to hear from candidates who can demonstrate the majority of the following skills and experience:

• A proven track record of experience delivering high quality architecture

• Experience in running projects at a range of scales from small domestic to £3M, covering all work stages, will be an advantage.

• Close attention to detail across all aspects of design and good technical knowledge.

• Effective time management, resourcing and managing the project team

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written and graphic communication skills

• Experience, working knowledge and understanding in AutoCAD, Revit, Creative Suite

• Self-motivated but also a good team player

• A driving licence is advantageous

Closing date for applications: 03/12/2021

To apply, please send us an introductory letter, a current CV and examples of work covering a range of appropriate skills to admin@ocarch.co.uk

OCA are hiring a RIBA Part II Architectural Assistant

We are looking for an Architectural Assistant to join our team and be involved in a variety of interesting projects.

We are a close knit team of like minded people who are looking for another architect to join us to help design and deliver some exceptional projects. We are an award-winning practice with a growing client base operating from premises in Edinburgh’s old town. For a relatively small practice we cover an interestingly wide range of projects including occasional domestic projects, various community-led projects, co-design events, and buildings for healthcare, leisure and culture.

The ideal candidate will be an RIBA Part II Architectural Assistant.

We look for people who are articulate, curious, creative and interested in design. We want good designers, good communicators and people who want to contribute as part of a team.

The ability to produce top quality visuals is a must. The office uses Revit, Autocad, Sketch-up and Adobe Creative Suite packages, a knowledge of which would be preferred but is not essential. Candidates will ideally already have a minimum of six months architectural work experience.

Our studio is fast paced, friendly, focused and fun. It’s a great place to start and grow your architectural career.

Closing date for applications: 03/12/2021

To apply, please send us an introductory letter, a current CV and examples of work covering a range of appropriate skills to admin@ocarch.co.uk

Seminar with Sapieza University of Rome

Anna McLuckie and Oliver Chapman have been invited to participate in a seminar with the Architecture department at Sapieza University of Rome. The Egg Shed project will form part of a unit investigating three dimensional design and technology.

News of an RIBA National Award 2021 for the Egg Shed, Ardrishaig

Part of a former fuel storage site that detracted from Ardrishaig's lovely Pier Square, the structure has been reused and extended and is now a vibrant visitor attraction and community meeting space right on the edge of the sea loch. Visibly marking the change in tidal levels, the new intervention appears like a form slipped within the old building, settled at a safer raised height.

Welome Martin and Pamela

Martin Lambie and Pamela Feng have joined OCA.

Martin recently oversaw the £4m second phase of Galeri arts centre in Caernarfon which won an RIBA Welsh Architecture Award last year and the Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries, winner of the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, which he worked on from planning to completion.

Pamela is a recent Masters graduate from the University of Edinburgh, qualifying with a Master of Architecture with Distinction and was awarded the ESALA postgraduate prize for best overall MArch student, joint award 2020-2021

OCA announced Architecture Practice of the Year at the Scottish Design Awards

We are absolutely delighted to have been nominated ‘Architecture Practice of the Year’ at last week’s Scottish Design Awards - the crowning glory in a year which has been simultaneously stimulating and challenging for the team.

In addition to this headline news we also picked up an award in the Regeneration category for the Egg Shed and Ardrishaig Harbour revitalisation project, as well as our Flitch House project in Trinity being declared winner in the Low-Cost Project category. We’d like to offer congratulations to the other members of the design teams, contractors and clients which we have had the pleasure to work with on these projects.

Awards nominations for The Egg Shed & Flitch House

We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted in the Scottish Design Awards, rounding out a bumper crop of six awards nominations across 2020, including the RIBA/RIAS Awards and the Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards.

For the Scottish Design Awards, The Egg Shed has been nominated in the Public Building category while the wider Ardrishaig Harbour redevelopment has been recognised in the Regeneration category. Finally, Flitch House has been included on the Low Cost Projects shortlist. We can’t wait for the virtual awards ceremony next month!

Developing proposals for Glenluce GP Surgery

We’ve recently been working on proposals for redeveloping the GP’s practice in Glenluce, Dumfries & Galloway, where the community wants to secure its future healthcare provision by buying the surgery. We explored options for how to deliver best long term value for the community. It’s great to have got the study submitted to the Scottish Land Fund for Stage 2 funding.

Working with the local community at Astley Ainslie

OCA are delighted to have been selected to lead a team to help develop a spatial framework, feasibility study and business plan for the community ownership of the Astley Ainslie Hospital site, Edinburgh.

The Astley Ainslie has lessons for its future in its recent past. Its garden-like setting has made it a poignant place for people to recuperate and revitalise after experiencing personal trauma. The community Visioning Report from 2019 shows us a glimpse of the many benefits the site could provide such as a community hub, health and wellbeing provision, novel forms of housing tenure, productive greenspace, and outdoor learning and recreation through continued public access. We are looking forward to collaborating with the Astley Ainslie Community Trust and the wider community to develop their vision of a new future for this important site.    

The team includes Athena Solutions, HarrisonStevens, Michael Collins Architect, Sam Shortt, Simon Whatley and Thomson Gray.

Flitch House featured on Dezeen

Lovely to see our contemporary interpretation of the Arts & Crafts tradition, Flitch House, featured by architecture and design magazine Dezeen. Check out the full article at https://www.dezeen.com/2020/05/07/flitch-house-extension-oliver-chapman-architects-arts-crafts/