Winner – Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries, Client Fife Cultural Trust, Application Fife Council
Highly Commended – Kilmardinny House, Client East Dunbartonshire Council, Application Clark Contracts Ltd
Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries
Client – Dallas Mechan Fife Cultural Trust
Architect – Richard Murphy Architects
Contractor – BAM Construction
Submitting Organisation – Fife Council Property Services
This project links superbly with the world’s first Carnegie Library and now houses a museum, exhibition galleries, local history reading room, a new children’s library and a mezzanine café offering stunning views over the adjacent landscaped garden to Dunfermline Abbey and Heritage Quarter. The use of traditional materials, steel and stone, crisp detailing along with plenty of light throughout the building, enhances the user’s experience from the moment you enter the building and move through the various levels to reach the café, reading room and galleries which can be used as a single large exhibition space or as two separate spaces, depending upon how the partition walls are located. The panel were impressed with the overall design and construction of this project, and the way the design team and contractor met the client’s requirements. The project uses the tight site well, and maintains a well-used pedestrian route through the site which now offers people the opportunity to meet for study, use the café, learn about their local history, and interact with the views and spaces around the site.