Two projects by Archial Architects have been nominated for Scottish Design Awards.

The two projects, both designed by Archial’s Glasgow office, are the Small Animal Hospital for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow and Lochgarry – 40 Cleveden Drive, Glasgow, a residential project undertaken for a private client.

Archial’s striking design for the £10.5 million pioneering world-class centre for veterinary medicine has already won the Supreme Award from the Glasgow Institute of Architects, the prestigious RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award and has just been shortlisted for a RIBA award.

Situated at the entrance to the grounds of the Garscube Estate, the Small Animal Hospital provides state of the art services for animal owners and referring practitioners throughout Scotland and Northern England, including the most advanced diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical techniques.

Russell Baxter of Archial Architects said: “One of our chief concerns when conceiving the design for this facility was how to create a large hospital building without ruining the beautiful green space for which the Garscube Estate is renowned. Essentially, our solution involved lifting up the ground, peeling off the grass and placing the new building underneath.


“Since various aspects of the new facility did not require natural light – much of its 4500 sq m involves internal spaces such as the treatment area, oncology and diagnostics – this design solution was able to meet the needs of the hospital whilst maintaining the integrity of the location. In order to let daylight in to public areas, an innovative ‘crystal’ glass cupola, lit with different colours at night, sits within the building’s sloping grass roof.”

The natural look of the new Small Animal Hospital is completed with stone-filled gabion baskets, lending the building a deliberately solid and heavy base, emphasising the driving idea of roof and ground.

Meanwhile, the recently completed Lochgarry – 40 Cleveden Drive project is a stunning £3 million conversion of a luxury five bedroom period villa in the west end of Glasgow.

The former boys’ home has undergone a dramatic transformation that has seen the architects extend and convert the property to better suit the requirements of the owner.

Calum MacCalman, director at Archial Architects, said, “The more radical interventions made to the building are very modern, though we’ve respected and retained many of the traditional features. In addition to reinstating timber panelling doors, cornicing and ceiling roses throughout, we designed skirtings and facings for the house that complemented its traditional character whilst lending it a contemporary twist.”

The ground floor of the property now houses a library, living room and a dining kitchen, from which a new staircase descends into the garden level, where another kitchen and family relaxation space that relate directly to the garden are located. This leads through to a study, gym, studio space and a hi-tech multimedia room.

The first floor, meanwhile, comprises four bedrooms, all en suite, while the entire second floor is devoted to a master suite, incorporating a sleeping area, dressing room and a sitting area with tea and coffee making facilities. A new structural glass staircase extending from the first to the second floor is a particularly striking design feature.

Externally, the landscaped garden includes a cricket pitch, a cobbled driveway, an undercover barbecue area and various other al fresco spaces for relaxation.

The Scottish Design Awards celebrates the best of graphic and architectural design produced in Scotland.

(GK)