Building Briefs - 9th March

Phillip Long, director of Dundee’s new £80 million V&A museum, has announced that the flagship project will pay homage to Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

In the week that construction work began on the controversial new museum, Mr Long said the legacy and influence of Mackintosh would be a key part of the dramatic building’s collections.

Although the museum will attempt to entice tens of thousands of visitors with a constant stream of touring exhibitions, the museum, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, will have a permanent show of between 250 and 300 objects.

Many of these will be drawn from the 17,000 Scottish works in the V&A collections in London, but others will come from Scottish collections, loans and public lenders.

Mackintosh, considered both one of Scotland’s finest architects and designers, will form a key part of this, Mr Long said.

Robert Gordon team award for building project

An innovative project led by architecture experts at an Aberdeen university has won a top award.

The Robert Gordon University project aims to improve insulation for historic building stock.

The 19th century Bogendollo House project was the testing ground for the new insulation technique.

And the scheme has now won a merit award in the Chartered Institute of Building International Innovation and Research Awards.

The technique used water-blown foam specifically designed for injecting into delicate structures to insulate walls without causing damage to historic features.

After the initial trial, the technique was refined and it has now been used throughout the rest of the C-listed building on the Fasque Estate, near Fettercairn.

Dr Amar Bennadji, who led the research team, said: “We’re delighted that this project has been recognised by the CIOB for its innovation and are excited about the potential it has to help the drive towards better insulating existing building stock across the country.”

Angus Council allocates affordable housing site

A 0.38-hectare plot in Montrose has been allocated for affordable housing by Angus Council.

The local authority approved the appropriation of the site adjacent to Rosehill Adult Resource Centre at the meeting of the communities committee, after the council’s social work and health department declared it surplus to requirements.

Cllr David May (pictured) said: “I am delighted to support the recommendation that the site adjacent to the Rosehill Adult Resource Centre be redeveloped as affordable housing. Montrose has a shortage of affordable housing and, by backing this report, it means that up to 12 affordable houses for rent can be built.

“Lack of affordable housing has been an issue raised with me by several residents in the town so anything that can be done to have more of this type of housing is to be welcomed.”