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Awards
The Edinburgh Architectural Association Award 2002
The Dundee Institute of Architects Award
The innovative approach at Fairfield over the last 20 years has made it an exemplar of affordable green housing and earned it a place in the shortlist for a World Habitat Award 2003.
The Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) is an independent UK based research institute concerned with identifying housing solutions rather than problems. They recognise that, in both the developed and the developing world, the divide between the rich and poor city dwellers is becoming increasingly stark and that “ safe urban environments are increasingly becoming private rather than public goods, with only the rich able to make choices and buy whatever level of safety they feel necessary” 1 . They further recognise that this gap needs to be bridged and that practical and effective housing solutions can provide positive and successful ways forward.
BSHF set up the World Habitat Awards 14 years ago in order to identify successful and practical solutions to housing problems throughout the world, identify how one-off projects can become mainstream processes and disseminate these findings so others can learn from them.
18 years ago residents in Fairfield , then called Hunter's Crescent, would have been hard pushed to imagine their estate being short-listed for such an award. When Gaia were commissioned in 1985 to carry out community consultations and assess the consensus for regeneration as well as the way forward the estate was regarded as one of the most deprived in the East of Scotland. The number of residents had fallen by two thirds, including tenants who were families of itinerant farm workers, who left their homes for the summer and autumn to become travelling labour pools; 20% of the residents were in the seriously disadvantaged category, and over 100 houses were boarded up with steel shutters. In 1987 a survey showed that 80% of the residents were unemployed, the crime in the area made up 2% of all crime in Tayside and 75% of the residents wanted to leave the area.
More than just a name-change, the regeneration achieved it's objective of stemming the decline of the area and by 2000 unemployment and crime had dropped to 19% and 0% respectively; there were no empty properties and only 1% of all residents were now looking to relocate.
The transformation, from an area that was difficult to let to one that now has a list of people wanting to move in, was achieved with a phased regeneration programme that provided sustainable opportunities for the physical renovation of the estate, created work opportunities and training during the construction period and the ongoing management of the estate. Imperative to the success achieved was the residents' involvement in the process.
With each phase of development - beginning in 1988 - the environmental agenda was increased; to a point where the latest phase – Toll House Gardens , completed last year - comprises a very healthy building specification within approved and standard cost yardsticks. The importance of this is that it seeks to decouple the established link between social status and health, notably related to asthma and allergic sensitivity, especially in children. As part of a research project by Gaia Research (funded by the Dti and the RIBA and sponsored by Baxi, Vent Axia, Forbo-Nairn and The Pilgrim Bed Company) this development will be monitored to assess the impact of design on the management of asthma triggers and allergens.
http://www.bshf.org/en/to.php/about/dih/projects.php?pID=123
1 . World Habitat Awards 1999 Introduction speech by Mr Peter Elderfield, Director, BSHF
Glencoe Visitor Centre won the RICS Award for Energy Efficiency 2003.
“The architects of this impressive scheme set out from the start to achieve levels of sustainability that are rare, even in today's environmentally-conscious world. The ideas put into practice here are often talked about but seldom seen. It is good to see such genuine commitment to the concept of sustainability.”
Jim Ure –Judge
The judges were so impressed with the holistic approach to sustainability that they were promted to change the name of the Award for subsequent to ‘Sustainability Award', rather than just ‘Energy Efficiency Award'
“A tribute to Gaia's pioneering approach and philosophy. The new facilities are more than just energy efficient; they are an attempt to be truly sustainable in every sense of the word.”
Gaia Architects commitment to its environmental principles were recognised recently by the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards 3003, held at the Arches in Glasgow in December.
Gaia were announced as winner of the East region, small business category at the high profile ceremony. The Awards dinner was chaired by CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan and presented by Ian Rush of Rolls Royce, a sponsor of the Event.
Gaia Architects were commended because of their deep-rooted environmental policy within the office, as well as being in the business of designing buildings and project strategies with total commitment to environmental issues.
“Gaia have a deep rooted environmental philosophy and although their offices are relatively small these premises have been transformed becoming environmentally friendly. There is a detailed environmental policy looking at continuous improvement in the office. The office was originally electrically heated but this has been changed to low carbon gas heating, all water and energy use is monitored, office waste is segregated and recycled, energy efficient lights were installed and environmentally friendly paints were used throughout.”
For more info go to the vibes website www.vibes.org.uk
REASURE
AWARD – Regional Design and Advice Support Units Award Europe 
This architectural Award from the Scottish Energy Systems Group [SESG] is for an existing, operational low-energy building with an integrated Renewable Energy System(s).
Glencoe Visitor Centre won the Non-domestic category because of its successful integration of a climate-sensitive design approach consisting of a renewable energy system, reduced energy demands and high quality indoor environment.
"Context is extremely important, not only the site context, but the Client's programme and anticipated occupancy pattern, for example, which in the case of a Visitor Centre - only open during the day, and mostly in the summer and shoulder months - affects the overall strategy of how best to integrate site, building, services and people as an efficient, comfortable system overall."
"Solar gain, either passive or active made little sense in this context of wind, rain, cold and daytime summer opening. Expansive exposed facades for solar gain would only be counter-productive. With heating the main criteria, the best renewable supply which suited the rural conditions and stimulated local employment was a woodchip heating facility, linked to the whole complex via an insulated underground district heating system. This managed all space and water heating with standard electricity (from Client's existing, contracted supplies) used for all other, much reduced power supply”
For more information go to www.sesg.strath.ac.uk
The David Douglas Pavilion by Gaia's Birnam office was awarded a Wood Award in 2003 in the Commercial & Public Access category
The Wood Awards were founded in1971 as The Carpenters Award, by the historic City of London Guild - the Carpenters' Company. They aim to encourage the highest standards of timber design and joinery in the field of building construction within the United Kingdom .
The Gordon Hallewell, Chairman of the Scottish Plant Collectors Garden Committee said,
“With the assistance of European funding and Scottish Forest Industries we have been able to create an iconic building constructed entirely from sustainable home grown Scottish Timber. This is a fitting tribute to the intrepid Perthshire plant collector David Douglas and one, which promotes the use of timber in all its glorious form. ”
Learn more about the Scottish plant collectors garden at - http://www.srgc.org.uk/feature/Plant%20Collectors%20Garden/collectorsgarden.html
Photos by Sandy Leven
Edinburgh
Architects Association Award 2002 
Gaia won a Sustainability Award for the Glencoe Visitors Centre.
The EAA Awards are designed to create a showcase for the Edinburgh Architectural profession to demonstrate its skills and its contribution to the environment and economy. They highlight the excellent work undertaken within the Chapter Area, and by Edinburgh Architects in general.
Dundee
Institute of Architects Award
The Dundee institute of Architects recently awarded a Commendation to Gaia Architects for the design of the David Douglas Pavilion at the Scottish Plant Collectors Garden in Pitlochry
Gaia were awarded a Dynamic Places ‘ Buildings and Construction' Commendation in 2003 for Toll House Gardens .
This Award recognises:
• quality in design
• regenerative effects on places – and people
• innovation
Gaia also won a Dynamic Places ‘Sir Robert Grieve Award' in 2002 for the Glencoe Visitor Centre.
This Award recognises:
• implementation which follows a masterplan
• integration with existing initiatives or processes
• processes which encourage sustainability
• assessment or monitoring methods
The Dynamic Place Awards recognise excellence in the design and implementation of projects that enhance Scotland 's urban and rural environments. The Awards aim to encourage quality design, strong partnership working and inclusive approaches to development, from specialist designers and builders to users and visitors. The Awards are an important catalyst towards improving the economy and environment of Scotland .
Now in their third year, these Awards aim to encourage quality design, strong partnership working and truly inclusive approaches to development from the specialist designers, public agencies, businesses and community bodies who initiate projects.
Gaia won this award from the Chartered Institute of Housing for Toll House Gardens at Fairfield in Perth .
Gaia have received a number of Perth Civic Trust commendations for the regeneration of Hunter Crescent into the Fairfield Estate in Perth .
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