Posts From Michelle McWilliams

University of Aberdeen Library: 'a luminous landmark for the city'

The University of Aberdeen Library is almost a year old. It opened in September 2012 and was designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, a Danish practice, who also designed the Royal National Library in Copenhagen. Featured in international architecture, design journals and blogs it was recently listed as one of ‘the top 20 modern mesmerising libraries around the world’. The ground floor is open to the public. ‘The façade of

Hank Bought a Bus

Frustration at all the desk-based design that dominated his architecture degree drove Hank Butitta to undertake a hands on practical project for his dissertation. After buying a school bus on Craigslist for $3,000 Hank had only several weeks to convert it to a home. With his dissertation at the University of Minnesota completed, the bus is now being put through its paces as a fully functioning home. Hank and his friend/photographer

Anna Greta Eker: classic Norwegian design you can get your hands on

Saying her name may sound like choking on dry Weetabix but her designs are a far more sinuous affair. Anna Greta Eker was an important designer of the 1960s Norwegian craftdesigner movement and a key figure in the non profit PLUS organisation, creating striking modernist pieces in silver that are as covetable and stylish today as they were when they were made. Excitingly, you can still source her work on

New microbrewery, bar and restaurant for Dunfermline

David Austin’s self-confessed low boredom threshold has been good for Dunfermline in Fife. Having opened Reuben’s, a cafe/deli which quickly became popular in the town, he soon added a wine store. The venue, named after his son, then started hosting wine tastings and live music events. After that came the de Brus beer, the town’s own blond ale developed by David and named after King Robert the Bruce. The beer

Deep Fried Film Festival starts this weekend in Coatbridge

Deep Fried Film – the only international film festival in Coatbridge – gets underway this Saturday 10 August and continues until  17 August. It kicks off with children’s films on the Saturday afternoon and ends with an awards ceremony followed by a big party and a chance to mingle with the film makers. There will also be  some stand up comedy, music and art. The amount raised for charity – the festival

WIN a gorgeous framed picture from Hannah Brown Interiors

Hannah Brown Interiors is a fresh new range of decorative products for the home, all handmade by Hannah herself. The range includes unusual framed items such as microscope slides, quail eggs and seafans. There are also richly textured cushions and delicately pressed orchids and leaves. We particularly like the duckweed series mounted on shades of green and we’re delighted that Hannah has offered a framed duckweed print as a competition

Tell your story at The Real Bothy Project in Fife

Claire Lamond, Andrew Lennie and Alan Grieve are the artists behind the Real Bothy Project. Travelling through Fife this summer, they have been inviting people of all ages to ‘grab a bothy brew and join in the bothy banter’, continuing a long association of artists with the wild shelters of Scotland. They say, ‘traditionally, the bothy is understood as an egalitarian environment, a space for exchange. a place of chance