Architecture

Rare chance to step inside Pittencrieff House and help shape its future

All this week (1-7 August) there is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the shaping the future of one of the jewels in Dunfermline’s architectural crown. For almost 500 years Pittencrieff House has enjoyed a commanding position, enjoying views of the sweeping south lawn of the Glen and to the Forth Valley beyond. Historically significant, it was once the home of the Forbes family, in particular the high achieving

First home becomes forever home in central Dunfermline

The term ‘ideal first home’ suggests something petite and manageable, perhaps a one bed flat in a new build block. First timers  Katie and Ryan however have gone for something much more ambitious – and more splendid!  – plunging into a back-to-the-bare-bones renovation of a dilapidated, stone built Edwardian end terrace in central Dunfermline.  When they moved in, in the summer of 2020, the house had not been lived in

‘Is Dunfermline Rubbish?’

Design Dunfermline 2018, 25-29 April The forthcoming Design Dunfermline 2018, a four day community event to come up with a shared vision for Dunfermline’s town centre, has, like many things in Dunfermline, provoked two reactions. For the most part, the response is very positive and the Design Dunfermline team is pleased to report the bookings for free places at the event have been busy. Then, there’s the other reaction, from

Design for Dunfermline: Blueprint event asks citizens for their High Street ideas

The latest event in the Blueprint Dunfermline programme, which celebrates the built environment of Dunfermline and West Fife, gives Dunfermline residents the opportunity to put forward their ideas for structural changes to the town’s High Street. Jointly hosted by Avocado Sweet and local architectural firm Sam Foster Architects, the ‘architectural drop-in’ event, will take place on 7 and 8 October in the Community Gallery at the new Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. 

Extraordinary Coincidences: Pittsburgh & Dunfermline, Wednesday 20 September, 7pm, FSC

Don Carter, the Director of Urban Design at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is coming to Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline to speak on ‘Extraordinary Coincidences: Pittsburgh/Dunfermline’.  The American architect and urban designer, whose grandfather was a coal miner from Ballingry, will be joined by Lord Bruce who will be speaking on Dunfermline’s urban planning and its regional and global links. 7pm Wednesday 20 September 2017, Fire Station Creative, Carnegie

Outwith Festival – new arts event for Dunfermline!

Four days, eleven venues and over fifty talented performers including acclaimed artists, writers, comedians and musicians: Avocado Sweet, along with Dunfermline Delivers, Fire Station Creative and Caroline Copeland, are very proud to be one of the founding partners of an exciting new cultural event coming to Dunfermline in September.  Outwith Festival will include a major new art work, a book launch, readings by authors and playwrights, cutting edge comedy and improvised theatre.

Perth, Scotland: City Hall designs revealed

Five architects have been shortlisted to transform Perth City Hall in St John’s Square by Perth & Kinross Council.  By the end of 2017, one of the five companies will be chosen to proceed with the £20 million transformation. After Historic Scotland blocked demolition to make way for a city centre plaza, attempts to transform the building into an indoor market hall were also rejected, and, in 2016, Perth and

Dunimarle Castle, Culross beautifully restored

Dunimarle Castle and Chapel, one km west of Culross had fallen into disrepair and had been vandalised when new owners asked GLM architects  to renovate and refurbish the magnificent A-listed castle, in a prominent elevated position facing south over the Forth. A major feature of the castle had once been a magnificent Orangery. In the 1960s this had been truncated by having its roof removed and replaced by a much lower

Watch live theatre performed in Dunfermline’s Royal Palace Ruins and Abbey

Could there be a more authentic and atmospheric setting for an adaptation of Macbeth than Dunfermline’s Abbey Nave and ruined Royal Palace? Heard No More, a highly imaginative, 21st century response to the Shakespeare play, has been created by Fife College Performing Arts and Sound Production students and is one of the first events of its kind to take place in Scotland. The audience absorbs the performance via headphones as they

An Audience with Richard Murphy at the Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries

‘An Audience with Richard Murphy’ on Monday 8 May should be an interesting event. The award-winning architect responsible for the new Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries will be giving a personal insight on designing this innovative building before it opens to the public on 18 May. Last month DCLG won Best Building 2017 at the Edinburgh Architectural Association awards, coming first out of 57 entries. There will be an opportunity