Winners announced for the 2026 A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture

The winners of the 2026 A&DS & RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture have been announced.

The awards were presented at the annual Andy MacMillan Memorial Lecture on Friday 18 September at the Edinburgh Futures Institute alongside the opening of the student awards exhibition at A&DS:SpACE.

Titled How Will Scotland Be Built in 20 Years?, this year's lecture was chaired by Andy Summers of Architecture Fringe and featured Sandy Robinson from the Scottish Government and Nicky Thomson of Studio Niro. Together, they explored how Scotland can plan, design and deliver its towns, cities and infrastructure over the next two decades.

As Scotland's built environment enters a period of significant change, the discussion considered the opportunities and challenges ahead and how the country can prepare for its communities' and places' future needs.

A&DS & RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture - the results

Following the Andy MacMillan Memorial lecture the winning, commended and highly commended projects were announced. 

The judging panel consisted of:

• Rory Flyn | Architect and Director, Dualchas
• Kuan Loh | Senior Architect, Planning, Architecture and Regeneration, Scottish Government
• Alistair Scott  | Architecture and Design Scotland Board member and Co-Founder of Smith Scott Mullan

Winner: Sandy Greig (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Nourishing Life; Restoring Yangsheng along the Fangjia Hutong

Judges’ comments: "This outstanding project presents a compelling vision for the renewal of Beijing’s historic Fangjia Hutong, skilfully balancing heritage, community wellbeing, and urban regeneration through a series of thoughtful interventions that enrich everyday life and strengthen the existing urban fabric."

Also awarded in this category: 

• Commended: Marcelina Anna Janas (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Civic Praxis

Shortlisted in this category:

• Daisy Foster (Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture) for After Extraction, RE-commissioning, RE-use and RE-mediation at Leith Dock
• Bridget Schneider (Duncan Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for The Eucalyptus Project : O Caminho dos Baldios
• Mats Borgen (Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture) for Caravanserai of Spoken and Written Word

Winner: Claire Aiken (Duncan Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for The Living City

Judges’ comments: "This project showcases the sensitive transformation of a historic structure into a vibrant green urban destination, using thoughtful design and beautifully presented architecture to create an uplifting environment rooted in renewal and community value."

Also awarded in this category:

• Highly Commended: Ailsa Jane Carrigan (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Earth Sea

Shortlisted in this category:

• Amelia Mackintosh (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Klambra - Reykjavik Rewilding Centre
• Xindi Su (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) Vaulting the Cordiner's Edge: Crafting Lost Grounds
• Maxwell Raymond Berner (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for A Centre for the Built Environment
• Hannah Geng (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Vessels of Tapestry: Anchoring On

Winner: Antonia Graham and Charlie Young (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for A Village Between Waters: Revealing the Hidden Polder Landscapes of Vrouwenpolder

Judges’ comments: "This project reimagines the Dutch polder landscape through an ambitious and beautifully communicated vision that reconnects community, agriculture, ecology and water management to create a resilient and sustainable future."

Also awarded in this category:

• Highly commended: Sandy Greig (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Nourishing Life; Restoring Yangsheng along the Fangjia Hutong
• Commended: Daisy Foster (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for After Extraction, RE-commissioning, RE-use and RE-mediation at Leith Dock
• Commended: Lucas Pradel (Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment) for The Doric Commons

Shortlisted in this category:

• Siya Kulkarni (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Entangled Interfaces
• Tyrese Tackie (University of Strathclyde) for Govan Makes: Cultural Framework & The Lyceum Theatre of Making

Co-Winner: Ailsa Jane Carrigan (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Earthsea 

Judges’ comments: "This project was beautifully resolved and presents a compelling vision for tackling the climate challenge, combining environmental regeneration, local material production, and low-carbon design to create a resilient and sustainable rural future."

Co-Winner: Marcelina Anna Janas (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Civic Praxis

Judges’ comments: "This project demonstrates a holistic approach to sustainability, integrating materials, making, education, and community to create an adaptable architectural vision that balances environmental, social, and economic resilience."

Also awarded in this category:

• Commended: Siya Kulkarni (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Entangled Interfaces

Shortlisted in this category:

• Antonia Graham and Charlie Young (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for A Village Between Waters: Revealing the Hidden Polder Landscapes of Vrouwenpolder

Winner: Marcelina Anna Janas (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Civic Praxis

Judges’ comments: "This project demonstrates exceptional architectural representation, using beautifully crafted drawings to communicate a compelling vision with remarkable clarity, atmosphere, and storytelling."

Also awarded in this category:

• Highly commended: Sandy Greig (Mackintosh School of Architecture) for Nourishing Life; Restoring Yangsheng along the Fangjia Hutong
• Commended: Davide Uccello (Duncan Jordanstone College of Art & Design) for Becoming Architecture - Metamorphosis as Metabolic Flux
• Commended: Mats Borgen (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Caravanserai of Spoken and Written Word

Shortlisted in this category:

• Siya Kulkarni (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) for Entangled Interfaces
• Daisy Foster (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture) After Extraction, RE-commissioning, RE-use and RE-mediation at Leith Dock

We're hosting this year's student awards exhibition at A&DS:SpACE, where we will showcase the winning, commended and shortlisted students' projects. The exhibition is open to the public from 21 - 24 September, 10:30 - 16:30. 

How to find us

A&DS:SpACE is located on Level 0 of Edinburgh Futures Institute East Wing, next to Middle Meadow walk. Please double check the daily opening hours, as the place may be closed to the public from time to time to facilitate the events programme.
Please note that access to the space is from Middle Meadow Walk NOT through the main EFI building. 

What3Words Link: https://w3w.co/hoping.proven.hills