'Experiments in Architecture' | Summer Academy /  by OCA Studio

As part of Schop Institute and Summerhall's collaborative Architecture Academy in July, Edinburgh school students occupied a vacant lab at Summerhall, the former Royal Dick veterinary school at the east end of the Meadows, Edinburgh. This lively new arts venue gave the participants a taste of the varied learning environment similar to that in higher education. As well as taking part in design studio challenges and model making exercises, the students were given illustrated talks and taken on guided visits to an architect’s practice, a building under construction, the department of architecture at the University of Edinburgh and a tour of Edinburgh’s old town.

The week culminated in a design exercise. The aspiring architects designed a fantastical towering mix of uses including a new type of ethical bank, a Japanese Noh dance studio and Big Brother style apartment for visiting architects.

The course builds on Schop Institue’s Making Architecture evening classes which run in the autumn each year at Schop Institute’s office in St Mary’s Street, Edinburgh. Schop is an initiative of Oliver Chapman Architects to widen participation in the study of architecture and the city.

Schop plans to repeat this course in summer 2013. Contact us early to secure a place | admin@schop.org.uk

Double Success at the Scottish Home Awards 2012 /  by OCA Studio

We are delighted that our conversion of the former Courier Newspaper buildings in Haddington into affordable housing and offices for East Lothian housing Association and Whiteadder developments received 2 prizes at this years Scottish Home Awards. The project won the 'Small Affordable Housing development of the year award' and was highly commended in the 'conversion of the year award' category

Bellfield Lane takes shape /  by OCA Studio

The complex steel structure of the fully accessible house at Bellfield lane is now complete providing a first glimpse of how the sequence of intricately crafted spaces relate to it's eclectic context and the sea beyond. The house was designed by Architects Ian and Thea McMillan in collaboration with OCA

Rethinking Scotland's policy on architecture and place /  by OCA Studio

Our supported housing project in the Scottish Borders will feature in the Scottish Government's exhibition 'INPUT + IDEAS, Rethinking Scotland's policy on Architecture and Place which is on view at the Lighthouse, Glasgow during June.

INPUT + IDEAS gives you a chance to shape the future of Scottish architecture and placemaking policy. Nominated exemplar projects are presented to stimulate debate and encourage your input to the Scottish Government's consultation on the new policy.

Finalist in the Scottish Home Awards 2012 /  by OCA Studio

We are delighted that our conversion of the former Courier Newspaper buildings in Haddington into affordable housing and offices for East Lothian housing Association and Whiteadder developments has been shortlisted for both the Scottish Home Awards conversion of the year and the small housing development of the year awards 2012

Grand Designs /  by OCA Studio

Our 'Skerrie' House in Anstruther has a small feature in the May edition of Grand Designs magazine. This months edition also features articles on American Architect Tom Kundig, and coincidentally a house for Edinburgh based engineer David Narro who collaborated closely with OCA on the structure of the Skerrie House

Government seal of approval /  by OCA Studio

The Todlaw supported housing development has been included on the Scottish Government's webiste of 'inspirational designs'. This forms part of the government's agenda to promote good architecture and placemaking by showcasing the best of Scottish housing with the intention of inspiring others.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/AandP/InspirationalDesigns/ProjectType

OCA to host a Common Purpose event /  by OCA Studio

Civic leadership skill development organisation, Common Purpose, have asked OCA to host an event that will consider how the architectural profession is widening it's role to influence broader social and economic issues. Michael Collins and members of the City of Edinburgh's Planning Policy team will lead a discussion with twelve participants in early April

Kelpies Visitor Centre Collaboration /  by OCA Studio

Plant Architects, Toronto selected Oliver Chapman Architects as their partners to deliver the £1m Kelpies Visitor Centre project which will form part of the wider £41m Helix project near Falkirk. The commission entails creation of an internal public space within a 30m high Kelpie designed by sculptor Andy Scott, and an adjoining visitor pavilion. The Helix Project consists of 300 hectares of underused land between Falkirk and Grangemouth composed of woodland, a lagoon and parkland all interconnected via canals, walkways and cyclepaths. Five teams presented to the judges in February and the winning proposals will be announced in March. It is being funded by Falkirk Council, British Waterways, Central Scotland Forest Trust and the Big Lottery Fund.

Oliver Chapman Architects collaborates with UK and international practices who share their goal of design excellence, to design and deliver projects in Scotland.

Image credit: Plant Architects, Toronto

Schop Institute Events Website Launched /  by OCA Studio

Our 2012 programme of events goes live today.

www.schopinstitute.com.

Have a look at our 'Science and the City' talks and guided building visits for the Edinburgh Science Festival - and our International Summer School which we're running with our partners at Summerhall, Edinburgh's newest and most exciting performance and visual arts venue at the former Royal Dick Veterinary School.

Schop Institue is an educational foundation established to widen involvement in the debate about architecture and cities. It's educational programme is curated by Oliver Chapman Architects www.schopinstitute.com

OCA are working with the Forest to find a new venue /  by OCA Studio

It's great to be working with the Forest, Edinburgh helping them to find a new venue. Forest is a volunteer-run, collectively-owned, free arts and events organisation. They provide a dedicated space for people to get involved in any creative activity imaginable. Their events have included music, theatre, dancing, yoga, massage, poetry recitals, art displays, knit-ins, book tours, language teaching, monsterbike making…and plenty more. Please support their fundraising campaign to Save the Forest http://blog.theforest.org.uk/savetheforest

AJ Small Projects Award shortlists OCA's Skerrie House /  by OCA Studio

An extension of a fishing cottage in the East Neuk of Fife has been shortlisted for this year's small projects award orgainised by the Architects Journal. Shortlisted from 156 entries, the award has grown to become the UK's main opportunity to showcase the best architecture for commissions below £250,000 in value.

The Courier project completed in Haddington /  by OCA Studio

The Courier Building in Haddington has now been completed. The B Listed Maltings formerly home to the Courier newspaper's offices and printing works has succesfully been converted by OCA for East Lothian Housing Association to use as their offices as well as an additional 14 sustainable and affordable apartments.

The project has also been featured in urban realm- http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3235/Haddington_landmark_given_fresh_lease_of_life.html

3 Nations and After Dark | Presentations of the work of OCA & Schop Institute /  by OCA Studio

Oliver Chapman was invited by the Dutch Embassy and Buro Happold to speak at the 3 Nations conference in London. This was an initiative to share experiences of being a small practice for architects from England, Scotland and the Netherlands.

Oliver was also the guest speaker at the City of Edinburgh Council's 'After Dark' lecture series where he discussed how the practice is widening its role with its sister organisation Schop Institute.

Doors Open Day /  by OCA Studio

The Cockburn Association have organised this year's Edinburgh Doors Open Day which will run over the weekend Saturday 24th + Sunday 25th September 2011. OCA will be represented at three different locations:

Trinity Garden Room - Saturday from 2 - 5pm

Schop - Saturday from 2 - 5pm

Baha'i Faith Centre - Sunday from 2 - 5pm

Please see website for more details: http://www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/default.asp?page=120

RIAS Accreditation in Sustainable Architecture /  by OCA Studio

Oliver Chapman has been awarded the RIAS Accreditation in Sustainable Architecture in recognition of the practice's design excellence in this field.

The practice's low carbon housing at Scotland's Housing Expo and the affordable housing in Duns, Berwickshire were acknowledged as projects which demonstrated Oliver's commitment to sustainable design.

Cast Collection Conference /  by OCA Studio

The Edinburgh College of Art are hosting an international conference focusing on the Cast Collection between 9th-11th September 2011. Events include an opening reception with Lord Bruce (11th Earl of Elgin) + Councillor Deidre Brock. Guest speakers include Professors Charles McKean + Stephen Bann, Ian Gow and John Lowrey.

OCA Associate Director, Mark Cousins, will speak on the topic of ‘Accommodating Nike’ and the design of the proposed new gallery.

'Growing Capital' /  by OCA Studio

Summer School Day One | Follow our regular posts on our Facebook site (Oliver Chapman Architects) | Welcome to our team from Spain. After introductions, we are heading straight into our lively programme of discussions and design exercises. . . but only after a lunch time leg stretching stroll up Arthur's Seat. Great initial chat around our theme 'Architecture and Crisis' that included observations about how 'crisis' can be interpreted at different scales - from wholesale change in a city's planning down to the stresses of occupation during an event like the Edinburgh Festival.