An Turas Tiree Building, Contemporary Hebrides Architecture Photos, Scottish Island Art Design Project
An Turas Tiree Ferry Shelter Building
Ferry Shelter, Western Isles, Scotland, UK design by Sutherland Hussey Architects
post updated 11 August 2023
Tiree Building on Scottish Architecture Stamps
An Turas by Sutherland Hussey Architects selected as one of six British buildings on the Royal Mail’s new collection of stamps celebrating contemporary UK architecture.
An Turas Building
Sutherland Hussey Architects information:
An Turas Tiree Ferry Shelter
9 Jun 2006
Sutherland Hussey Architects are delighted with their new piece of paper architecture!
Undoubtedly their most famous building to date, An Turas (The Journey), has been selected as one of only six British buildings to be represented on the Royal Mail’s new collection of stamps issued to celebrate contemporary architecture in the UK.
The Building is situated on Tiree and was designed, in collaboration with artists Jake Harvey, Donald Urquhart, Glen Onwin and Sandra Kennedy, as a place to shelter from the elements whilst waiting on the local ferry arriving.
The Image used for the 64p stamp was taken by photographer Peter MacKinven and shows a glass belvedere penetrating an existing dry stone dyke on to the beach.
Royal Mail Info:
Modern Architecture: 20 Jun 2006
“To mark this achievement we are showcasing some of the very best new examples on six stamps issued as part of National Architecture Week”.
Scottish Ferry Shelter
An Turas Review
Exclusive Tiree images © Adrian Welch
a policeman calls
The visit took place to mark the unveiling of this bold project by Sutherland Hussey Architects. I accompanied Charlie Sutherland, Colin and Nicky up to the island and had lunch with Tiree Arts, photographed the opening and spent the night enjoying a good chat in the local hotel. Some of the photos were used by Building Design magazine and the article is linked above.
Adrian Welch, Architect
preparing for the opening
an turas sets up contrasts and strong moods:
two views
expansive context
below the bridge
the opening party:
piping in the shelter
cacophony
bridge + box
walls + bridge
tiree and the views of the shelter:
arrival, an turas far left
from the beach
view to bungalow, from north
break on through to the other side….
from the north-east
details of an turas:
water tray
reflection through glass from outside
slate / boards @ glass box / bridge junction
an turas: the tiree context
scarinish harbour, 1km away
local context, white walls and black felt
thick walls + thatch of traditional ‘black house’
An Turas – Client, Tiree Arts: www.tireearts.org
Pierhead Arts Project
An Turas – Project Description
This is a Scottish Arts Council funded project for Architect, Artist and Engineer to collaborate in making a structure for the island of Tiree.
Located near to the pier, the structure is intended to act as a ‘shelter’ whilst waiting for the ferry.
It is hoped that it will reflect some of the qualities of the island, distilled as a line in the landscape.
As an experiential sequence it is conceived of in three parts.
The white walls: Open to the sky but sheltered from the wind
The bridge: Protected from the weather, closed to the sky and the horizon but open to the rock and sand of the beach below.
The glass box: The complete panorama, looking out along Gott bay and beyond.
It is intended that the materials used will reflect (though not directly imitate) the vernacular architecture of the island.
The whitewash walls, the relationship of wall to groundscape, the black-felt roof of the bridge, all allude to qualities particular to the island.
by Sutherland Hussey Architects, Edinburgh
detail at corner of glass box
Awards
– RIAS Best Building in Scotland winner in 2003
– RIBA Stirling Prize Shortlist 2003
– Royal Scottish Academy Gold Medal for Architecture 2003
– RIBA Award 2003
– RIBA Stephen Lawrence Award Shortlist 2003
– EAA Annual Awards for Architecture 2004: President’s Medal
from the west, edge of beach
Summary
Client: Tiree Arts Enterprise – Brian Milne
Collaborators: Jake Harvey (Artist)
Donald Urquhart (Artist)
Glen Onwin (Artist)
Sandra Kennedy (Artist)
David Narro (Structural Engineer)
Contractor: Inscape Joinery – Bridge structure
Euan Harvey – Steel cube structure
Arthur Elliot – Walls / Concrete work
Value: £ 95,000
Time Span: Design inception Jul 2000
Completion: Feb 2003
all an turas images below by sutherland hussey architects:
view from east
full view from south-west
Further Reading
An Turas Architects: Sutherland Hussey – www.sutherlandhussey.co.uk
Journey to find art in Tiree by Duncan MacMillan
http://news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=767502003
15.07.03
Herald article by Martin Williams
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/1604.html
30.09.03
Guardian article
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,1163753,00.html
07.03.04
An Turas – Plans, Sections & Elevations
Previous An Turas Images released by Sutherland Hussey Architects end of June 2003 prior to opening:
an turas projected view from east
RIAS information frpm 2003:
23 October 2003
And The Winner Is… A Ferry Shelter
Tiree Ferry Shelter Award
An Turas, Tiree is the winner of the RIAS Award for Architecture, Best Building in Scotland 2003.
An Turas, a Scottish Arts Council funded project for Architect, Artist and Engineer to collaborate in making a structure for the island of Tiree, was created by Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart and Sandra Kennedy. The £100,000 project, completed in March 2003, was described by the judging panel for the award as “small, simple and sophisticated, reticent, refined and rigorous, a modern interpretation of the Gazebo and a stunning architectural experience”.
The award was established last year in recognition of the growing number of innovative, exciting new buildings in Scotland. Building projects of all sizes and types from across the country were eligible for the award, but must have demonstrated innovation, design excellence and competence. Other considerations for the judges were: detailing of materials, sustainable design, technical ability and aesthetic appeal.
The judging panel spent three days visiting a wide variety of projects from around Scotland. The five finalists were chosen as the best examples of new building design in Scotland, which matched the stringent criteria of the award. Summarising the judges’ comments on the winner, Professor Andy MacMillan said:
“Poetically named An Turas, A Journey, it is small, simple and sophisticated, reticent, refined and rigorous, a modern interpretation of the Gazebo and a stunning architectural experience. Not a shelter, but a place in which to experience Tiree, the big sky, the unending wind and water, the beauty of the island and its squalor.
This impeccably detailed small building is the result of a creative collaboration of architects, artists and an engineer, located at the place of arrival and departure from the island it cannot be missed.
A paradigm of Tiree, the journey between its walls simultaneously reveals the idealised view of sea and ethnic housing, while making visible the big sky above, and by its exclusion by the sheltering walls, the ever-present wind. Arrival in the glass box reveals a triptych of views. To the left, the dry stane dyke, the upthroughst power pole and its trailing wires and the out of place Victorian bye law house.
To the right, the pier – the place of first and last impression, the “Pizza Hut”-like ticket and waiting rooms for the ferry, the container and lorry park, the pebbledash bungalows on the road. And finally, when it rains, the glass roof holds the blown water long enough to create a shifting pattern of light and a waterfall down the glass front.
A place of subtle insight, poetically conceived, stunning in its import, immaculately constructed.”
an turas: from the south-west
The RIAS Award was presented to Sutherland Hussey at the Point Conference Centre, Edinburgh on 23 October.
The judges for the 2003 award were:
Andrew Doolan, Andrew Doolan Architects, Edinburgh;
Professor Andy MacMillan OBE, Emeritus Professor, Mackintosh School of Architecture;
Julia Barfield MBE, Marks Barfield Architects; London;
Irene Barkley, President Edinburgh Architectural Association
The shortlist was:
An Turas, Tiree (WINNER)
Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart & Sandra Kennedy
Westport, Edinburgh
Reiach and Hall Architects
Mossman Houses, Edinburgh
Arcade Architects
Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow
Gordon Murray + Alan Dunlop Architects
During the RIAS Festival Exhibition 2003, Scotland the Brave, visitors were asked to vote for their favourite featured building:- 1st – An Turas Tiree – Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Sandra Kennedy, Glen Onwin and Donald Urquhart
EAA Annual Awards for Architecture 2004: President’s Medal
Sutherland Hussey Architects: An Turas
Glasgow Building Designs
Contemporary Glasgow Property Designs – recent architectural selection below:
Paisley Museum transformation fundraising campaign
image courtesy of Renfrewshire Council
Paisley Museum Building
Cameron House Resort Building News
photo courtesy of Cameron House
Cameron House Loch Lomond Resort
Buildings / photos for the Tiree Architecture design by Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart & Sandra Kennedy page welcome