DO-Architecture

27/04/2025

20/12/2024

A New Crematorium & Construction Skills Academy for Glenrothes - Planning Approval

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Situated along the southern periphery of a wooded site, the construction campus pairs a construction skills academy with a timber frame factory and company headquarters. The new construction campus aims to deliver training alongside an active production line making new affordable homes for Fife. The wider campus joins the proposed new crematorium to the north and is mediated by a designed memorial landscape in-between.

Collectively the construction campus and crematorium work compliment one another in energy sharing via a district heating network. The two sites are connected via a new planted landscape that will emerge and mature along the connecting eastern edge of the site.

20/12/2024

A New Crematorium & Construction Skills Academy for Glenrothes - Planning Approval

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We are delighted to announce that planning permission has now been granted for our proposal for a new crematorium and construction skills academy in Glenrothes.

The design of the new crematorium seeks to respect a series of existing linear ‘desire paths’ in the mature grassed meadow, the site emerging from a designed east-west orientated line delineating public and private spaces within the crematorium. Transitioning from a mark in the ground, through a hedge, a screen and eventually a perforated wall this ‘line in the land’ becomes the threshold across which coffin and mourners pass in the final dignified stages of committal within the crematorium.

The new crematorium is defined by and subservient to the landscape within which it sits, a place of transition where the architecture quietly forms a backdrop to the journey from life to death.

18/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design

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The town of Dumbarton - ‘Dùn Breatainn’ - lies approximately 15 miles north-west of Glasgow city centre, located at the confluence of the River Clyde and River Leven. Historically, the region can be traced back to the Iron Age, a period marked by the establishment of early settlements and defensive structures, some of which are still evident today. In the post-Roman era, Dumbarton - meaning ‘fort of the Britons’ - became known as ‘Alcluith’, a strategic stronghold of Brittonic power until its ransacking by the Vikings in 870 AD. The town later became the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde.

Dumbarton’s strategic positioning at the junction of two major waterways undoubtedly established its prominence as a military stronghold over the centuries and facilitated its emergence as a major industrial and shipbuilding hub during the nineteenth century. Although heavy industrial use of the river has since declined, efforts to enhance its recreational use have emerged via the regeneration of Dumbarton’s waterfront to improve walking routes and accessibility.

18/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design

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By the 1930s, like many small shipyards, the company struggled to compete with larger, more established firms and eventually ceased trading. In the late 1930s, the building found a new lease of life as office accommodation for the Canadian distillery Hiram Walker & Son, who established a grain distillery, bottling and blending plant, and warehouse at the rear of the site. This marked a significant shift from its industrial roots, introducing a new wave of commercial activity to the area.

Following the closure of the distillery in 2002, the site underwent demolition, with the distillery and associated buildings being largely removed in preparation for a much-delayed regeneration of the riverside. After a vacant period, the building became offices for the Procurator Fiscal and more recently a licensed public house operating under the name ‘The Clipper’.

18/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design

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Drawing inspiration from Dumbarton’s rich industrial heritage, the project aims to honour the town’s enduring character and legacy as a hub of craftsmanship and innovation. It integrates contemporary geometries that pay homage to the historic conical structures of the Dumbarton Glassworks, alongside a rising tower element influenced by the former Dumbarton Distillery. This tower serves as a striking vertical landmark, symbolising the site’s industrial past.

The use of weathered steel celebrates the robust materials that once defined Dumbarton’s industrial landscape. Its natural patina evokes the resilience of the town’s shipyards, distilleries, and factories, while providing a sustainable and low-maintenance envelope for the building.

17/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design

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This project aims to create a dynamic and inclusive space that fosters community and cultural engagement, seamlessly merging the preservation of the building’s historical character with contemporary standards of accessibility, safety, and design. By carefully balancing respect for the original structure with thoughtful, modern interventions, the project aspires to become a leading example of sustainable adaptive reuse. These interventions will not only preserve the building’s architectural heritage but also ensure its functionality and relevance for present-day use, ultimately contributing to the vitality of the community and the broader cultural landscape.

17/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design  

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This combination of demolition and new construction weaves a narrative of continuity and innovation, seamlessly integrating historical preservation with the contemporary needs of accessibility, safety, and modern space standards. By respecting the building’s original character and introducing thoughtful interventions, the project has the potential to become a benchmark for sustainable and respectful adaptive reuse within Dumbarton, ensuring the building remains relevant for modern use.

The adaptive reuse of the structure revitalises the development, ensuring its lasting significance in a contemporary urban context. Retaining the original fabric while enhancing it with internal insulation, the project combines modern sustainability standards with a deep respect for architectural heritage.

13/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design

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On the ground floor, an entrance foyer acts as a transitional space between the outdoors and indoors, connecting a new stair core with access to the upper floors and the main venue or events space. Indoor retail pods are strategically positioned near the entrance and circulation zones to improve accessibility, while storage rooms and essential facilities, such as accessible WCs and security areas, are discreetly tucked away to maximise functionality without interrupting the flow of the primary spaces.

The first floor builds on this experience with a flexible public café that doubles as a gallery, providing ample space for social interaction. This level also features studio spaces, a communal staff kitchen, and a rentable meeting room, all linked by a central circulation core. An external terrace and bridge further enhance connectivity, creating seamless transitions between the original building and the new extension. The second floor serves as a professional workspace, offering recording studios, production suites, and offices. These areas are equipped with acoustic partitions for optimal functionality, while an opening in the floor adds visual connectivity to the level below. Vertical circulation, including stairs and lifts, ensures smooth movement throughout the building.

13/12/2024

The Clipper - Adaptive Reuse of a Former Shipyard - Concept Design

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We are delighted to share our proposal for The Clipper in Dumbarton. A new extension, aligned with the site’s southern boundary and designed independently from the original building, is envisioned to enhance the structure’s functionality while preserving its heritage. The extension incorporates a secondary circulation core with external bridge connections, carefully designed to minimise structural impact on the existing building. The verticality of this core acts as a transitional element, harmonising the scales of adjacent structures along High Street and establishing a striking focal point that reflects the site’s rich historic context.

This sensitive approach to adaptive reuse creates a compelling dialogue between demolition and new construction, blending historical preservation with contemporary standards for accessibility, safety, and modern functionality. By honouring the building’s character through thoughtful interventions, the project aspires to serve as a model for sustainable and respectful transformation, ensuring The Clipper’s continued relevance and vitality within Dumbarton’s urban fabric.

14/11/2024

House 4 - A New Home by Loch Vatten - Planning Submission

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Nestled into the landscape, this single-storey home respects the existing contours and croft boundaries, preserving the visual harmony of the Harlosh peninsula and remaining unobtrusive within its surroundings.