Winners announced for the 2025 A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture

(October 2025) The winners of the 2025 Architecture and Design Scotland and Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Scottish Student Awards for Architecture have been announced. 

The winners were announced at the annual Andy MacMillan Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, 1 October at Civic House in Glasgow. Titled "Who Gets to Save What?", this year’s Andy MacMillan Lecture brought together chair Natasha Huq with panellists Lily Erskine and Phil Long OBE to explore the contested terrain of architectural preservation. Using the recent sale of the Bernat Klein Studio as a starting point, the conversation explored how heritage is shaped not only by cultural value but also by questions of ownership, access, and agency. 

The judging panel consisted of:

• Dr Lynn Wilson | Creative Director, Circular Design Synergy and Board Member, A&DS
• Ashley Mullen | Senior Architect, Architecture and Place Team, Scottish Government
• Mhairi Grant | Founder and Director, Paper Igloo

Winner: Emelie Christina Fraser (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for O Parque Dos Mortos

Judges’ comments: "This project is a standout example of architectural sensitivity and technical excellence, tackling a rarely addressed but deeply important subject with grace and clarity. The concept of geometry and circularity is beautifully embedded in both the spatial design and the lifecycle narrative, resulting in a thoughtful and emotionally resonant journey through the building. Stunning, soft-textured drawings and convincing technical detail elevate this project into a compelling and memorable architectural statement. This was a stand-out – when we saw it, we wished this building existed."

Also awarded in this category:

• Highly Commended: Drew Rumgay (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for CareKit - The Right to Heal
• Commended: Eilidh McGuigan (University of Strathclyde) for The Modern Ancestor: Cultivating new land rituals for contemporary custodianship of the Cairngorm landscape
• Commended: Harriet Johnson (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for KildeArk; Reconciling Surface to Seabed

Shortlisted in this category:

• Sophie Lathan (University of Strathclyde) for A Living Depository of Place-Based Memory
• Jennifer Mitchell (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Rural Reclamation 

Winner: Hannah Bendon (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Foraged Construction

Judges’ comments: "This well-researched and future-focused proposal presents a phased strategy for sustainable development, grounded in material reuse, community involvement, and skill-building. The project explores bio-based materials and circular construction techniques with clarity and realism, embedding itself thoughtfully into the landscape across different scales. Judges praised its comprehensive visuals, immersive process work, and convincing approach to minimising waste—making it a solid and believable response to long-term architectural challenges."

Also awarded in this category:

• Commended: Tom Victor Randall (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Porticus Neolithica - Gallery of the Neolithic
• Commended: James Langham (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for A Carved Warren : Reorder, Shell + Lining

Shortlisted in this category:

• Juliana Trumpa (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Museo del Fuego Santo - Museum project
• Cheung On Kiu Anku (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Parallel Construct
• Thuvaraka Inpanathan (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Common Ground

Winner: Struan Morrison (University of Strathclyde) for The Intencity

Judges’ comments: "This project presents a truly coherent and technically detailed vision that positions sustainability as a social responsibility, while creatively activating existing urban space. The idea of a participatory waterway is imaginative yet plausible, and the drawings effectively communicate a layered and engaging approach to urban design. Judges praised its clarity, ambition, and the human-centered way it connects art, design, and environmental stewardship."

Shortlisted in this category:

• Toby Alexander Ross (Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment) for Making Place
• Kara Leonard (University of Strathclyde) for Democratising Design: A Strategy for Participation in Urban Regeneration
• Ben McCaffery and Lisa MacRae (Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment) for Innovating Cumbernauld
• Jere Suominen (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Letting The Water In

Winner: Eilidh McGuigan (University of Strathclyde) for The Modern Ancestor: Cultivating new land rituals for contemporary custodianship of the Cairngorm landscape

Judges’ comments: "This well-rounded and technically convincing project explores the use of natural, low-carbon materials sourced locally, resulting in an architecture that is both contextually embedded and environmentally responsible. The narrative—centered on soil, craft, and climate—was clearly articulated through beautiful drawings, strong plans, and thoughtful technical sections. Judges praised its quiet impact, cultural sensitivity, and exemplary delivery of sustainable design principles."

Also awarded in this category:

• Commended: Rona Bisset (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Adaptation Out of Necessity
• Commended: Harriet Johnson (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for KildeArk; Reconciling Surface to Seabed

Shortlisted in this category:

• Thuvaraka Inpanathan (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Common Ground

Winner: Emelie Christina Fraser (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for O Parque Dos Mortos

Judges’ comments: "This project stands out for its sophisticated and stunning visual language, creating a powerful sense of atmosphere and clarity of architectural intention. The imagery is technically refined yet textural and soft, beautifully layered to reflect the spatial qualities and narrative of the design. Through a spiritual and poetic approach, the drawings convey a compelling story, making the proposal both emotionally resonant and visually exceptional."

Also awarded in this category:

• Highly commended: Hannah Bendon (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Foraged Construction
• Commended: Harriet Johnson (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for KildeArk; Reconciling Surface to Seabed

Shortlisted in this category:

• Tom Victor Randall (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Porticus Neolithica - Gallery of the Neolithic
• Kara Leonard (University of Strathclyde) for Democratising Design: A Strategy for Participation in Urban Regeneration