A&DS:SpACE - a new pop-up venue for design and architecture in Edinburgh

A collaborative venue by Architecture and Design Scotland and Space for Architecture, Carbon & Environment.

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<span>A&DS:SpACE</span> - a new pop-up venue for design and architecture in Edinburgh

Welcome to A&DS:SpACE

A&DS:SpACE is a collaborative venue by Architecture and Design Scotland and Space for Architecture, Carbon & Environment, hosting events and exhibitions about all aspects of the built environment. Located in the Edinburgh Futures Institute at the University of Edinburgh it will initially run from September - December 2026.

Hopeful Futures Interactive Exhibition information with text about the event.

Spotlight: Hopeful Housing Futures created by Imagine If. Space

15-17 September 10:00-17:00
The first exhibition and events presented in the space will be produced by Imagine If. Space - a community interest company on a mission to improve spaces that we experience in our daily lives.

Over three days they will present an interactive exhibition, workshops and events to explore what good homes, good streets and good communities might look, feel and be like in the future. The exhibition will evolve over the week with contributions from people who come along. More information available here.

Spotlight: The A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture - exhibition

Mon 21 - Thur 24 September, 10:30-16:30, Admission Free.
An upcoming exhibition of architecture students’ work offers a vivid glimpse into how emerging designers are reshaping the built environment. The showcase brings together models, drawings, digital explorations, and experimental materials that reveal each student’s evolving architectural voice. Themes range from adaptive reuse and sustainable urbanism to speculative futures, with projects demonstrating how design can respond to social, ecological, and technological change. It’s a celebration of creativity, critical inquiry, and the next generation of designers preparing to shape tomorrow’s cities.

What's on

Please note that the final details of the programme are to be added. Before coming to the exhibition space make sure to check the website for opening hours or any temporary closures to facilitate events.

Explore our programme

September

Hopeful Housing Futures

Exhibition | Tue 15 - Thur 17 September | 10:00 - 17:00 | Admission Free

An interactive exhibition that explores ideas about the future of home, streets and neighbourhoods in celebration of National Housing Week.

Explore your ideal living environment by playing the Imagine If Game - drop in and play, then compare your results to real-life examples of housing.
Build a fictional street together to explore what good design should and shouldn't consider. Join a workshop to help us build it.
Contribute to the "gallery of hopeful futures" showcasing good ideas from the neighbourhood workshops.
The short film “Hopeful Futures” will be played every half an hour between workshops
Come along to our closing panel discussion to find out "What do good neighbours, communities & homes look like?"

This exhibition aims to encourage conversation and surface good ideas to contribute to Hopeful Futures.

Exhibition, events and workshops by Imagine If. Space CIC

Additional events and workshops on Hopeful Housing Futures

Hopeful Housing Futures opening event

Event | Mon 14 September 2026 | 18:00 – 20:00

Launch of A&DS & SpACE exhibition programme with the opening event by Imagine If. Space exploring 'Hopeful Housing Futures'

For more information and how to register, view here.

Build a Street Together: Founders

Workshop | Tue 15 September 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00

Contribute to a fictional street shaped by 3 workshops throughout the exhibition - sign up to become a founder, innovator or steward.

For more information and how to register, view here.

Making Ideas Happen

Workshop | Tue 15 September 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00

Play our neighbourhood game, share ideas about the future of neighbourhoods & how to make them happen.

For more information and how to register, view here.

Build a Street Together: Innovators

Workshop | Tue 16 September 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00

Contribute to a fictional street shaped by 3 workshops throughout the exhibition - sign up to become a founder, innovator or steward.

For more information and how to register, view here.

Making Ideas Happen

Workshop | Tue 16 September 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00

Play our neighbourhood game, share ideas about the future of neighbourhoods & how to make them happen.

For more information and how to register, view here.

Build a Street Together: Stewards

Workshop | Tue 17 September 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00

Join the last workshop to create a fictional street for the exhibition - explore how people, nature and systems will steward the future.

For more information and how to register, view here.

Making Ideas Happen

Workshop | Tue 17 September 2026 | 15:00 – 16:00

Play our neighbourhood game, share ideas about the future of neighbourhoods & how to make them happen.

For more information and how to register, view here.

What do good neighbours, communities & homes look like?

Event | Thur 17 September 2026 | 18:00 – 20:00

Join Imagine If. Space CIC for an evening of conversation and inspiration, as invited panellists share real-world projects already creating more connected, inclusive, and thriving places. Through short talks and Q&A, explore practical examples, lessons learned and the ideas that can help shape better homes and communities for the future.

For more information about the event and how to register, view here.

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The A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture

Exhibition | Mon 21 - Thur 24 September 2026 | 10:30 -16:30 | Admission Free

An exhibition of architecture students’ work offers a vivid glimpse into how emerging designers are reshaping the built environment. The showcase brings together models, drawings, digital explorations, and experimental materials that reveal each student’s evolving architectural voice. Themes range from adaptive reuse and sustainable urbanism to speculative futures, with projects demonstrating how design can respond to social, ecological, and technological change. It’s a celebration of creativity, critical inquiry, and the next generation of designers preparing to shape tomorrow’s cities.

Exhibition by Architecture and Design Scotland and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

Additional events and workshops

Career Conversations: Speed Mentoring Afternoon with RIAS Careers Studio and A&DS

Event | Thur 22 September 2026 | 16:00 -18:00 | Admission Free

Join RIAS Careers Studio and Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) for an inspiring afternoon of speed mentoring designed to connect students with professionals from across the architecture and built environment sector.

For more information about the event and how to register, view here.

RIAS BookshopLATE...How to Build a City with Gabriella Bennett

Event | Thur 24 September 2026 | 18:00 -20:00 | Admission Free for RIAS Members

Join the next RIAS BookshopLATE talk... author Gabriella Bennett discusses her new book 'How to Build a City'

Gabriella Bennett takes readers on a globe-trotting journey to learn how we are reimagining home to embrace the challenges of contemporary living. From political instability to wildfires, flooding and an increased pressure on materials and space, the built environment is under threat like never before. It must change - and it is. We'll travel to the frontier cities of this urban revolution and discover how people are transforming their communities in surprising ways.

For more information about the event and how to register, view here.

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October

Climate Clinic – Diagnosing and treating the built environment

Event | Thurs, 1 October 2026 | 13:00 – 16:30

The Climate Clinic brings together architects, students, and built environment professionals to explore how we can adapt, reuse and future-proof the buildings and places we already have. Through a series of interactive discussions, the event will examine climate resilience, retrofit, adaptive reuse, circular construction and the design of healthier, more sustainable places in a changing climate.

Event registration opening soon.

Event by Architecture and Design Scotland

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Exhibition of the 2026 RIAS Award Winning Projects

Exhibition | Mon 5 - Thur 8 October 2026 | 10:30 - 17:00 | Admission Free

Explore the winning projects from the 2026 RIAS Awards for Architecture at this public exhibition, bringing together a selection of outstanding architectural projects from across Scotland.

The exhibition will also showcase the 2026 RIAS Doolan Award shortlisted projects, offering an insight into the range of work being considered for the 2026 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland. Together, the projects provide an opportunity to see the variety of approaches, scales and contexts represented in this year’s awards.

Exhibition by The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

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