WELCOME TO THE SUMMER 2021 NEWSLETTER OF RICHARD MURPHY ARCHITECTS

GREENOCK GEORGE WYLLIE GALLERY, CRUISE-SHIP TERMINAL AND RESTAURANT STARTS ON SITE

This project, delayed for a year when the previous contractor went into receivership, is now on site with the new contractor Heron Bros. Limited appointed by Inverclyde Council in May. It is expected to be complete by June 2022. We can also announce that the top floor restaurant in the building will be operated by Buzzworks restaurants. Those in the west of Scotland will be familiar with their unique brand which originated in Ayrshire. In the east they have, made a major impact with their destination restaurant "Scotts" at Port Edgar, South Queensferry. New pictures have been posted on our website.

TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN INNOVATION CENTRE GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION

We are delighted that Dublin City Council have given the go-ahead to our project in the docklands of Dublin. We are expecting to be on site towards the end of the year with completion by autumn 2022.

MACMILLAN HUB SUBMITTED FOR PLANNING PERMISSION

Our project for a combined nursery school, library, and housing for Edinburgh Council plus a major extension and reorganisation for North Edinburgh Arts was submitted for planning permission in May. Councillor Adam McVeigh, Leader of the Council said “Key aspects include the new local library which we hope will act as a community living room, reaching out to everyone. The new building also creates the opportunity to work closely with the new nursery. To have as much interaction with the children, parents and staff as possible – providing tailored events and sessions especially for those using and working in the nursery”. Lesley Hinds the Chair of North Edinburgh Arts said “This new capital project will allow the organisation to flourish, alongside Council provision, and bring a first-class facility to Macmillan Square”. The project is expected to be on site in early 2022 and fully complete by mid-2023. The contractor will be Robertson's Construction. New pictures have been posted on our website.

ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR SALE

We understand that Edinburgh City Council will shortly be inviting bids for the future of the Royal High School following the termination of their contract with the hoteliers who twice failed to get planning permission on the site. Our client, the Royal High School Preservation Trust and their partners, St Mary's Music School, will be submitting a robust bid backed by our planning and listed building consent to convert the building into a home for the school. Meanwhile there have been a number of online conversations hosted by the school with those involved in the project and Richard will be participating in an interview in the near future, details to be finalised.

HOUSE ON DALKEITH ROAD

Planning permission has been achieved for a new house on Dalkeith Road and the site is in the process of being sold.

ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL COMPETITION, NORTHERN IRELAND

The innovative design of our 80-bed acute mental hospital in central Belfast, delivered with RPP Architects, has been very well received in Northern Ireland so we are delighted that, teamed again with RPP and Aecom, we have been selected by the NI Northern Health and Social Care Trust for a competition for a 170-bed acute mental hospital in Antrim. The design will be submitted at the end of June, and we hope to know the outcome by August.

TRAVERSE THEATRE

The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh have asked us to look at various ideas for their expansion as well as instigate immediate small alterations to solve current circulation issues.

NEW HOUSE IN GULLANE, EAST LOTHIAN

Work starts on site for a new house in Gullane, East Lothian. The builder PJ Green has been appointed and they will start on site in mid-July with a completion date in the New Year.

HOUSE AT NEWBATTLE TERRACE, EDINBURGH

Our project at Newbattle Terrace is progressing on site and has continued to grow in scale as we have gone from an extension to the original house, to a full renovation and extension to provide flexible contemporary living spaces for modern family life. The new works also include for a new Japanese courtyard garden, which we are designing in conjunction with Ai Hishii of Momiji Design, to include antique Japanese sculptures and a large fishpond.

CARLTON TERRACE MEWS, EDINBURGH

Work on site is progressing at our mews renovation project in Carlton Terrace Mews. An additional stone surround dormer window has been formed and the roof re-slating work commenced. The existing ground floor openings are being enlarged and infilled with new double glazed units that will bring a generous amount of daylight into the new open plan kitchen & living space.

BOOK NEWS

Richard Murphy's "Carlo Scarpa and Castelvecchio Revisited" went out of print in March this year. It is currently being reprinted and will be ready for shipping in early August @ £75.00 including postage and package. Those ordering copies before 1st August can buy it at the old price of £70.00â€¯â€¯ The Italian language edition is expected to be ready this Autumn.

NEWS FROM THE BREAKFAST MISSION

The mezzanine in our office is now known as "the diplomatic quarter." â€¯Already the home of Christoph Crepaz, the Honorary Austrian Consul, it is now shared with Mike Christopherson, the Honorary General Consul of Sweden, who also represents the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Scotland . Sadly, the building is now full up! The Austrian, Swedish and EU flags will shortly be flying outside the office's front door. â€¯

RICHARD MURPHY ARCHITECTS IN THE MEDIA

"Meritocracy or Mediocrity".
The RIAS Quarterly published in May featured a major article written by Richard about risk and procurement titled. "Meritocracy or Mediocrity". The article can be read here (pages 14-16).

"There's no place like home"
The April 2021 edition of "Scottish Field" features a six-page article by Nichola Hunter on Richard Murphy's house in Hart Street.

“Blue sky thinking gives flight to Strathaven airfield ambitions”.
Colin MacKinnon discusses his and wife Marta’s plans for the future of Strathaven airfield and of course his house based on the airfield designed by Richard. The Daily Record article can be read here.

OTHER NEWS

Exhibition
The Royal Scottish Academy exhibition " Interior Landscapes" runs from 27th June to the 25th July 2021, and features domestic objects and furniture designed by academicians and others. Richard has lost his dining room table from his house in Hart Street for the duration of the show.

Writing
Richard has also been asked to write the forward to a new monograph on the Sri Lanka architect Palinda Kannangara published by the Spanish publisher El Croquis.

Events

He will also be going to Portugal this Autumn (covid travel restrictions permitting) to interview the Porto Architect Eduardo Souto de Moura in anticipation of his RSA Metzstein Discourse in Edinburgh in Autumn 2021.

And finally....

Interview

This interview shot in 2020 by Matt McCallum for the Mies.uk series has been posted on YouTube. Richard discusses how he came to be an architect, why as a Cheshire boy he is in Edinburgh and how he came to start his practice. The interviewer is Matt McCallum and you can view it here: