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saiilorstars · 4 years

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Falling in Temptation

Previous chapters || Sequel to Stars Dance

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: 11th Doctor/ Female OC

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Ch. 2: The Order of the Silence

Chapter summary: Three months have passed and the group learns that the Silence have been long-time residents of planet Earth. The Silence, in turn, seem to know Avalon and Amy more than the either girl would like. In the end when the Doctor has found a way to rid Earth of the Silence, he has a little talk with River Song concerning the warning he received a while back about Avalon. Would River actually hurt Avalon?

Fairy Tale Memoirs (Companion story)

3 Months Later.

Avalon, Amy, and Canton sat inside a car parked outside an orphanage underneath a heavy rainstorm. Canton reached to turn off the radio and looked back at the two women, both dressed in black suits to pose as FBI Agents, Amy in the passenger seat and Avalon behind, "Ready, check?"

Avalon raised her palm and stared at it hard, rubbing a finger over it, "All clear..." she answered emotionless, "...and more than ready," she made sure to add.

Three months. Three months it had been since the last time they faced the little girl in the astronaut suit and because of its 'guardians' (the creatures who had the power to erase memories) they had to be on the run for that much time. Of course, it had been part of the plan between everyone. While all the companions were out in various states of America, gathering information of the creatures after the little girl, the Doctor would be 'locked up' in Area 51 with Canton looking over him and 'chasing' after the other companions. During that time Avalon had come across many, many of the creatures...who all knew her, apparently. The small moments she could retain a conversation with them she'd demand to know how and why they knew her. Over and over she kept getting the response of their knowledge of her friends. That alone was a powerful motive for her to have a creature face to face and demand what they wanted. That was why she was there, standing in front of the orphanage with Amy and Canton, she needed answers and she was going to get them.

The Doctor had, had a plan to end the creatures' reign over the Earth, because that was what they were...they weren't just a simple tribe going for world domination, they had already won. They were the reigning species of the planet and it was time for the humans to finally remember and throw them off their planet. While he went to begin the plan, on the rocket-ship that would land on the Moon in just a couple hours, Avalon, Amy and Canton were to try and find the girl's 'home' and hopefully the girl herself. Meanwhile, Lena, River and Rory would remain in the TARDIS overlooking both parties should either get into trouble. Everyone in the group had nanorecorders inserted into their hands so communication would be easier, as well as a tool against the creatures who could evade their minds as soon as they looked away.

Avalon knocked on the front doors of the orphanage, impatiently groaning when she had to knock for the third time. Finally, a man, Dr. Renfrew opened the door but only slightly, "Hello," he greeted.

Canton held up his ID, "FBI. You must be Dr Renfrew. Can we come in?"

"The children are asleep," Renfrew seemed to be making an excuse.

"We'll be very quiet," Amy assured.

"Is there a problem?"

"It's about a missing child," Avalon noticed how nervous and simply...not quite there, type of stance the man had.

"What are you...? Yes, yes, come in, please."

Avalon pushed the door open and walked inside first, Renfrew quickly taking the lead. The trio observed the inside of the orphanage with distaste the further they walked inside. The entire building seemed on the brink of falling to the ground. What drew their attention most was the big, bright, red letters written on the walls 'GET OUT' and 'LEAVE NOW'. That didn't seem very welcoming for the children nor the adoptive parents.

"This way," Renfrew led them for the stairs, "Please excuse the writing. It keeps happening. I try to clean it up."

"Are the kids in some sort of arts and craft phase?" Avalon looked at the wall with the writing as they passed by, "They're the ones doing this, yes?"

"Yes. The children. It must be, yes."

"That doesn't sound very sure," Avalon whispered back to Amy who nodded in agreement.

"Anyway, my office is this way," Renfrew continued leading them up the stairs.

"We nearly didn't come to this place. I understood Graystark Hall was closed in '67," Canton was noticing the writing on Renfrew's wrist matching the same words on the wall.

"That's the plan, yes," Renfrew mumbled.

"The plan?" Amy caught the word with suspicion.

"Not long now."

"You do realize it's the year 1969, right?" Avalon raised an eyebrow, watching Renfrew freeze and look back.

"No, no. We close in '67. That's the plan, yes."

"I just said it's 1969 now!"

"Why are you saying that? Of course, it isn't."

"July," Avalon added, more than irritated she was being blatantly ignored.

"My office is this way, this way," Renfrew went off to a small stairway.

"We'll check upstairs," Amy whispered to Canton.

"Be careful," Canton nodded to the two gingers as they continued up the remaining steps.

~ 0 ~

Avalon pushed open a door in the upstairs hallway, leading Amy inside a disused dorm room with many bed frames on either side. Across from them were big, red words 'LEAVE ME ALONE' just like the stairway wall had.

"Well, then," Avalon breathed and walked further inside with her flashlight, "I think we came to the right place," she looked back at Amy who was already taking out her phone.

Amy nodded and spoke into her phone as soon as the line had been opened, "I think we've found the place she was taken from," she spoke to the Doctor.

"How do you know?" the Doctor was quick to ask.

"Cos those things have been here. But the whole place is deserted."

"There's just one guy here and we think he's lost it."

"We don't 'think' we know," Avalon made sure to clarify loud enough for the Doctor to hear.

"Repeated memory wipes fry your head eventually. Find out what you can, but don't hang around."

"Where are you?" Amy dared to ask, even Avalon dreading the answer.

"Gotta go!" the Doctor hurriedly said, "Got company!"

"...who are probably dressed in blue with guns," Avalon shook her head, "Idiot."

Amy laughed lightly, "Probably," she moved up to where Avalon stood in front of the words on the walls.

Soon after, the door slammed shut, making both turn to see what had caused it. They ran for the door to open it but Avalon had stopped in the center of the room, looking at her hands that now bore the tally-marks on the backs of it, signifying they'd seen the creatures again, "Amy!" she called, the other ginger turning and saw Avalon's hands, "...look at your hand, Amy," Avalon swallowed as Amy's palm flashed red, the nanorecorder having been used.

Amy pressed her palm and listened to her voice on the recorder, "I can see them, but I think they're asleep. Get out! Just get out!"

Avalon turned around for the window, gasping deeply when she saw her reflection on the window where her face was covered in tally marks, "There's a swarm, there has to be," she stumbled back, bumping into Amy.

Both women happened to look up to see exactly what Avalon had assumed, a swarm of the creatures up in the ceiling like bats as they hung upside-down. Amy accidentally knocked a pail as she tried moving backwards for the door, waking one of the creatures. Avalon raised her hand to leave herself a message when the door opened up on its own and unfortunately made both women look away from the creatures and forget all about them. As they left the room, the creature they'd woken up had stood in the middle of the room and watched them leave.

"Let's try this room," Avalon stopped by a second door and was about to open it when Amy spoke to thin air.

"Hello, who are you?"

Avalon turned and looked around, seeing nothing but walls and doors, "Amy? Who are you talking to?"

Amy went over to a new room where she'd literally just seen a woman with an eyepatch on it, like a hatch. Avalon sighed and followed Amy to the room she'd chosen, "Amy?"

Amy opened the door that led into a nursery, "Hello? I saw you, looking through the hatch..."

"Amy, there's no hatch here," Avalon stood at the door that was completely solid.

Amy frowned of confusion, she knew what she saw. Avalon left the doorway and came inside the room, "This place was just used," she remarked as she went over to the bed and picked up one of the stuffed animals, "They're in good condition and not dirty, look?"

Amy agreed and moved over to a bureau filled with different portraits of the little girl at various ages. However, she picked a certain portrait up and stared at it in disbelief, "How? How can that be me?"

"What is it?" Avalon set the stuffed animal down and headed for her but stopped at the sound of footsteps.

Upon both turning, they found the astronaut entering the room, "Who are you?" Amy immediately called, "We don't understand, so just tell me who you are!" the astronaut lifted its visor and revealed the little girl inside, the side of the inner visor cracked from the bullet Amy had fired at her, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shoot you. I'm glad I missed."

"But you killed the Doctor, or, you're going to kill him," Avalon sadly said, unable to be furious at a terrified, little girl for something that probably wasn't her fault, "You can't control that thing, can you?" she nodded to the spacesuit, "Cos you said...you said the spaceman was going to eat you..."

Amy realized what Avalon was trying to say and had to agree, "Oh my god..." she covered her mouth, "...the spaceman came and..."

"Please help me," the little girl begged, "Help me, please."

Without a thought, Avalon dashed to help the girl...when two of the creatures entered the room and slammed the door shut and headed for all three.

~ 0 ~

After hearing the screams of Avalon and Amy, and shooting one of the creatures, Canton ran up the stairs and hurried to the door from which Amy's voice was coming from, "Help me! Please, I can't, I can't see! Somebody help me!"

"Amy!" Canton tried breaking down the door, "Avalon! Can you hear me? I'm going to try to blow the lock. I need you to stand back."

Just as Canton raised his gun, the rest of the group had arrived, the Doctor quickly pushing the gun down, "Okay, gun down, I've got it!" Amy, Ava, we're here. Are you OK?" he used the sonic on the door and went inside.

"I can't see!" they heard Amy sobbing.

The Doctor rushed for the spacesuit laying on the floor while the others searched for the missing gingers.

"Where are they, Doctor?" Rory frowned when the room came up empty.

"They're not here," Lena gasped with realization.

"It's empty," River had raised the visor of the spacesuit while the Doctor used the sonic on it.

"It's dark, it's so dark. I don't know where I am," Amy's voice continued to be heard, "I don't think Avalon's here...please, can anybody hear me?"

The Doctor saw two nanorecorders laying on the floor, one still blinking red from where Amy's voice was coming from. Rory saw them as well and picked them up, "They took this out of them? How did they do that, Doctor?" his heart broke as he heard Amy crying through the recorder, still pleading for help, "Why can I still hear her?"

"And how come Avalon's isn't doing anything?" Lena took her sister's recorder and stared at it, hoping to at least get something that would tell her she was okay.

"Is it a recording?" River questioned while the Doctor used the sonic on the recorders.

"It defaults to live. This is current," the Doctor sighed, "Wherever Amy is right now, this is what she's saying."

"And Avalon?" Lena nearly teared up, "Why can't I hear her voice? Where is she?"

"Must be unconscious," the Doctor had to guess.

"Amy, can you hear me? We're coming for you. Wherever you are, we're coming, I swear," Rory had taken to talking to the recorder,t hinkg he'd be heard by Amy.

"She can't hear you. I'm so sorry. It's one way," the Doctor sadly informed him.

"She can always hear me, Doctor," Rory frowned, "Always, wherever she is. She always knows that I am coming for her, do you understand me? Always."

"Doctor, are you out there? Can you hear me?" Amy began questioning through the recorder, "Doctor? Oh, God. Please, please, Doctor, just get me out of this."

"He's coming. I'll bring him, I swear," Rory promised Amy and looked at Lena, putting an arm around her shoulders, "We'll find them," he assured her, the brunette beginning to sniffle the more she stared at Avalon's nanorecorder.

Renfrew appeared at the doorway, "Hello, is someone in there? Who? I think someone has been shot. I think we should help. We... I can't... I can't remember."

~ 0 ~

The Doctor and the others were led back to Renfrew's office where the creature Canton had shot was still on the floor, backing away once the Doctor had went for it, "OK. Who and what are you?" he got straight to the point as there was no time to waste.

"Silence, Doctor," the creature answered with ease, "We are the Silence," the Doctor recalled the previous mentions of that word through his travels, beginning with the day he regenerated, "And silence will fall."

~ 0 ~

Once the empty spacesuit was brought to the abandoned warehouse and set up on the operating table, the Doctor and River began examining it in hopes of gathering something of the Silence to help Avalon and Amy. Meanwhile, Lena and Rory stood to the side, both holding the nanorecorders in their hands.

"It's an exo-skeleton. Basically, life support. There's about 20 different kinds of alien tech in here," River gestured to several of the technology inside the spacesuit.

"Who was she? Why put her in here?" the Doctor still didn't understand what an entire species wanted with a little girl.

"Put this on, you don't even need to eat," River continued, as if to emphasize how powerful the the Silence were, "The suit processes sunlight directly. It's got built in weaponry and a communications system that can hack into anything."

"Including the telephone network?"

"Easily."

"Why phone the President?"

"It defaults to the highest authority it can find. The little girl gets frightened, the most powerful man on Earth gets a phone call," River shrugged, "The night terrors with a hotline to the White House," she saw the Doctor sniffing her invitation envelope, going as far as licking it, "I feel compelled to point out if Avalon were here she would've smacked you for that," the Doctor opened his mouth to argue but considered it and ended up shrugging with agreement, "Either way you won't learn anything from that envelope," River made sure to clarify.

"Purchased on Earth, perfectly ordinary stationery, TARDIS blue," the Doctor reviewed what he'd gotten from the envelope, "Summoned by a stranger who won't even show his face. That's a first for me. How about you?"

"Our lives are back to front. Your future's my past, your firsts are my lasts."

"Not really what I asked," the Doctor frowned.

"Ask something else then."

"What are the Silence doing? Raising a child?"

"Keeping her safe," River judged by the spacesuit's components, "Even giving her independence."

"The only way to save Avalon and Amy is to work out what the Silence are doing," the Doctor pointed at her as well as the others.

"We know," Rory sighed as he and Lena neared them.

"Every single thing we learn about them brings us a step closer."

"Yeah, Doctor, we get it, we know."

"Have we considered the fact that perhaps the little girl isn't so...normal?" Lena spoke up for the first time since they arrived at the warehouse.

"Well, I'd say she's human, going by the life support software," River informed them before they agreed with Lena.

"But?" the Doctor asked.

"She climbed out of this suit," River sighed, "Like she forced her way out. She must be incredibly strong."

"Incredibly strong and running away," the Doctor tilted his head, "I like her."

"We should be trying to find her."

"Yes, I know, but how?" the Doctor challenged, "Anyway, I have the strangest feeling she's going to find us."

"Why does it look like a NASA space suit?" Lena stared at the spacesuit with confusion.

"Because that's what the Silence do, baby sister," the Doctor pointed, "Think about it. They don't make anything themselves. They don't have to. They get other life forms to do it for them."

"So they're parasites then?" Lena guessed with irritation, "Is that why they took my sister? To put them to work or something?"

"I like the idea," the Doctor nodded, "But we can't be sure. You're right, though, they're like parasites, super parasites more like it. Standing in the shadows of human history since the very beginning. We know they can influence human behavior any way they want. If they've been doing that on a global scale for thousands of years..."

"Then what?" Rory asked.

"Then why did the human race suddenly decide to go to the moon?" everyone looked over at a broadcasting television they had to the side, the Doctor continuing with the theory, "Because the Silence needed a space suit."

~ 0 ~

A while later Rory took a seat on the floor against crates with Amy's nanorecorder, Lena resided inside the TARIS with Avalon's recorder, while the Doctor and River worked on the spacesuit. The Doctor held River's handheld device and looked at the video Canton had recorded of the Silent and grinned with triumph. He shut the device off and turned to River just as they saw the spacesuit gloves twitching.

"This suit, it seems to be repairing itself. How is it doing that?" River blinked and stepped back from the suit, "Doctor, a unit like this, would it ever be able to move without an occupant?"

"Why?"

"Well, the little girl said the space man was coming to eat her. Maybe that's exactly what happened."

They heard the sounds of Amy from the nanrecorder from the crates, "I love you. I know you think it's him. I know you think it ought to be him. But it's not, it's you. And when I see you again, I'm going tell you properly, just to see your stupid face. My life was so boring before you just dropped out of the sky," Rory dropped his head after hearing that, dejectedly, "So just get your stupid face where I can see it. OK? OK?"

Quietly, the Doctor moved over to the crates and sat beside Rory, "She'll be safe for now. No point in a dead hostage."

"Can't you save her?" Rory asked, trying his best not to sound so impatient.

"I can track that signal back. Take us right to her and Avalon."

"Then why haven't you?"

"Because then what? I find them, and then what do I do? This isn't an alien invasion. They live here. This is their empire. This is kicking the Romans out of Rome."

"Rome fell," Rory sighed as he reminded the Doctor of the key fact.

"I know. I was there."

"So was I."

The Doctor agreed and remained quiet for a moment, "Personal question..."

"Seriously?" Rory raised an eyebrow, "You?"

"Do you ever remember it? 2,000 years, waiting for Amy? The Last Centurion?"

"No..."

The Doctor gave him a sharp look, "Are you lying?"

"Course I'm lying!"

"Course you are," the Doctor realized it was pretty stupid to believe Rory could actually forget such a thing, "Not the sort of thing anyone forgets."

"But I don't remember it all the time," Rory shrugged, "It's like there's… a door in my head. I can keep it shut."

"Please come and get me. Come and get me," Amy continued to sob from the recorder.

"Doctor?" they heard Lena call.

The Doctor turned for the brunette who stood at the doorway of the TARDIS with tears on her eyes as she held Avalon's nanorecorder in her hands, blinking red. He hurried towards Lena, looking between the now re-activated nanorecorder and her, "What...what-"

"She screamed, big brother," Lena sniffled, "Like a horror movie, she screamed and then...it went silent again," her voice cracked as she went inside the console room.

"Did she do or say anything?" the Doctor followed her inside, motioning to Rory and River to give them a moment.

"She was telling them to stay away from her," Lena said in the midst of her crying, "Then it went silent," she plopped down on the console chair, "I want her back!"

"We'll get her back, you'll see," the Doctor went over and hugged her, "I promise you we'll get her and Amy back."

"I believe you, don't worry," Lena pulled away and looked up at him, "I just hate that it's taking so long to see them again."

"Yeah, Ava's not going to be too happy about the wait," the Doctor tried to joke and get Lena to at least chuckle.

"No, she knows you're coming, I heard her say it," Lena held up the recorder in her palm, "She believes in you completely."

"Really?"

"You don't believe that, do you?" Lena raised an eyebrow, suddenly suspicious. She cleaned her face of her tears and set the recorder on her side, "A full year of traveling together and you still have doubts?"

"She's a bit sarcastic, you know," the Doctor tried to make an excuse, "Sometimes, it's a bit hard to know when she's being honest..."

"She wasn't like that as a child, you know," Lena sighed, "She had to learn to defend herself from the people in town. Being sarcastic just worked and it stuck with her, like a defense mechanism. But she trusts you completely, I swear. I know it was wrong to do so but..." she sheepishly smiled, "...I sort of read her short stories.

"Lena!" the Doctor blinked, never expecting to hear that from Lena, the most innocent woman he'd ever met.

"Amy was already reading them and when I caught her she sort got me too," Lena shook her head, "Please don't tell Avalon, she'll kill me!"

"She'd never," the Doctor chuckled and put an arm around her shoulders, "But, hey...since you happen to know about those famous stories, you wanna maybe...tell me, what's the big hullabaloo about them?"

Lena smiled softly, "They're...completely fairy-tale, just like her. She really cares about you, you're a lot more important to her than you think."

"How so?" the Doctor found himself a lot more curious than he ought to be about it.

"Your her fairy-tale man," Lena patted his arm and stood up, "And you'll rescue her just like always," she declared with 100% certainty.

~ 0 ~

Amy gasped and came to an awake on a tilted operating table, underneath a bright light, "Where am I? Where is this?"

One of the Silence nearby turned to face her, "You are Amelia Pond."

"You're ugly, has anyone mentioned that to you?" Amy rolled her eyes and saw Avalon on the right side of the room, "Avalon!" the other ginger woman was unconscious, her head lulled to the side, "Avalon! What did you do to her!?" she demanded from the Silence.

"Examined her," the Silence answered.

"Let me go right now!" Amy ordered a she struggled to free herself, her hands strapped down by metal cuffs of the table.

"We do you honor," the Silence corrected, "You will bring the Silence. But your part will soon be over."

"Whatever that means, you've made a big mistake bringing me here, because wait till you see what's coming for you now," Amy smirked and glanced at Avalon, "And that's just her after she wakes up," she nodded to Avalon.

"You have been here many days."

"No, we just got here," Amy shook her head, not about to believe them, "You just put us in here."

"Your memory is weak. You have been here many days."

"No. No, we can't have been," Amy insisted.

"You will sleep now. Sleep, like the girl," the Silence started nearing her.

"No! No! Get off me!"

"Sleep."

"No! No!"

The sounds of the TARDIS materializing stopped it all and the Silence turned to see the Doctor, River, Rory and Lena coming out of the box, the Doctor holding the portable television in his arms, "Oh! Interesting. Very Aickman Road, seen one of these before. Abandoned, wonder how that happened. Oh, well! I suppose I'm about to find out. Rory, River, keep one Silent in eyeshot at all times," he didn't mention Lena as the girl had already ran to her twin's side and tried freeing her, "Oh, hello, sorry. You're in the middle of something. Just had to say though, have you seen what's on the telly? Hello, Amy, you all right? Want to watch some television?" the Doctor set the television on the console, "Hope it doesn't wake up Avalon, poor girl doesn't get enough sleep. Although for your sakes..." he eyed the Silence, "...it might be interesting to watch her after she's been freed, "Ah, now, stay where you are. Because look at me, I'm confident. You want to watch that, me, when I'm confident. Oh, and this is my friend, River. Nice hair, clever, has own gun, and unlike me, she really doesn't mind shooting people. I shouldn't like that. But after what you've lot done...I'm gonna let it slide."

"Not that you could've stopped me," River gave him a sharp look, her tone not one you wanted to challenge. She looked at the Silence with a dark glare in her eyes, "Make a move towards any of us and I'll shoot you all down, make no mistake of that."

"Now maybe you could just listen a minute," the Doctor held a finger to the creatures, "Because all I really want to do is accept your total surrender, and then I'll let you go in peace. You've been interfering in human history for thousands of years. People have suffered and died. But what's the point in two hearts, if you can't be a bit forgiving now and then. Ooh! The Silence. You guys take that seriously, don't you? OK, you got me, I'm lying. I'm not really going to let you go that easily. Nice thought, but it's not Christmas. First," he turned on the television for them to see the broadcasting of the moon-landing, "You tell me about the girl. Who is she? Why is she important? What's she for?" none of the Silence answered and so the Doctor went on, "Guys, sorry. But you're way out of time. Now, come on, a bit of history for you. Aren't you proud, because you helped?" he pulled out the antennae from the television, "Do you know how many people are watching this live on the telly? Half a billion, and that's nothing, because the human race will spread out among the stars, you just watch them fly. Billions and billions of them, for billions and billions of years. And every single one of them, at some point in their lives, will look back at this man, taking that very first step, and they will never, ever forget it," he stopped and watched the screen for the moment and pulled out a phone, "But they'll forget this bit," he spoke into the phone, "Ready?" he received the go from Canton and so hung up, gesturing for them to watch the television. As the moon-landing unfolded, the scene changed to that of the wounded Silence repeating over and over for the humans to kill any Silence they saw, "And one whacking great kick up the backside for the Silence!" the Doctor cheered, "You just raised an army against yourself, "And now, for a thousand generations, you're going to be ordering them to destroy you every day. How fast can you run? Because today's the day the human race throw you off their planet," the Doctor leaned away as the Silence leader advanced on him, "They won't even know they're doing it. I think, quite possibly the word you're looking for right now is, "Oops!" Run! Guys, I mean us!" he turned to the group, hands flailing in the air, "Run!"

As soon as the Silence drew energy to shoot, River began firing on all of them just as she had promised. Meanwhile, the Doctor used his sonic to keep them back.

"We can't get them out!" Lena called to them as she and Rory still worked on the restrains of Avalon and Amy.

Avalon slowly blinked open her eyes, "Wha..."

"Go, just go!" Amy ordered Rory, seeing they were getting no where near close to freeing them.

"We are not leaving without you!" he snapped.

"Will you just get your stupid face out of here?!"

Rory stopped upon those words and looked at Amy with shock.

"Right, into the TARDIS, quickly!" River instructed as she kept her fire on the Silence.

The Doctor ran over and freed Amy then Avalon, "Don't let them build to full power!" he shouted to River as he rejoined her.

"I know. There's a reason why I'm shooting, dumbo!" River rolled her eyes and happened to see him using the sonic again, "What are you doing?"

"Helping!"

River scoffed, "You've got a screwdriver. Go build a cabinet!"

"That's really rude!"

"Shut up and drive!" River pushed him for the TARDIS then noticed Lena struggled to walk Avalon towards the TARDIS, the ginger woman still half asleep, "Doctor!" she called again and pointed to the twins.

The Doctor hurried over and tried helping Lena when the amount of time made its presence and so he scooped Avalon up into his arms and took her and Lena back into the TARDIS. Once gone, River smirked and brought her gun to the fullest of powers, making a complete 360 spin, shooting the Silence dead. She finished and turned for the TARDIS to see Rory standing at the doorway, wearing a dumbfounded expression on the face, "No one saw that right?" River twirled her gun into its holster, "Bad influence and whatnot."

"So, what kind of doctor are you?" was all Rory could think of saying after seeing that.

"Archaeology," River pulled out her gun and fired at a Silence behind her without even looking, "Love a tomb," she smirked and entered the TARDIS.

~ 0 ~

River pushed the Doctor out of the way and started working the controls of the console. The Doctor frowned and tried taking control again, "You can let me fly it!"

"Yeah, and then that one over there is going to throw up with your style of piloting!" River nodded over to Avalon who sat on the stairs with Lena.

"I feel fine now," Avalon repeated for what seemed like the millionth time, "And I'm used to his terrible piloting."

"Yeah, she's fine," the Doctor agreed with a deeper frown.

"Why not instead of arguing you two make it back to the Whitehouse and explain to them what's gonna happen now?" Avalon raised an eyebrow, "Could be a lot more useful, you know."

With a huff from the Doctor, he let River fly the TARDIS to do as Avalon had suggested. They landed in the White House where the Doctor promptly explained to president Nixon how everything would be fine...well, sort of...or perhaps scared them a bit. He left the president and Canton with a hope that Canton could be reinstated into the FBI, after all he only wanted to get married. With that, he flew the TARDIS, he flew it that time, and brought River back to her cell.

He now stood in front of her cell, saying goodbye to her as this time (and as usual) she had helped him once again, "You know...you could come with us..." he offhandedly commented.

"I escape often enough, thank you. And I have a promise to live up to," River nodded, "You'll all understand, soon enough."

"Right," the Doctor ignored the last comment, never really putting much thought into her typical mystery puzzles. He turned and started heading for the TARDIS.

"Say bye to the others for me, please," River called, "And please do take care of them."

The Doctor stopped and considered something before nodding and turning around, "Really?"

"Hm?"

"You want them safe?"

"Yes, that's why I just said to take care of them," River shrugged, confused what he was going on about now.

"River, I know this goes against all the rules about time traveling, especially between us, but I feel compelled to tell you that I was once warned to keep a certain someone away from you or you'd hurt them."

"Oh..." River looked down, guessing which person was that 'certain someone' who should stay away from her.

"If I value that person's life, I should make sure you're far away from her, why?"

"Spoilers," River shrugged.

"I take it you know which one I'm talking about?"

"Avalon."

"Good, now I know I can't really trust you very well at the moment, haven't reached that point, but you could gather up some points if you tell me what to do about that warning?" the Doctor stepped towards her, "Should I really do that? Should I keep her away from you?"

River took a long breath before she looked up, "Yes, you should."

The Doctor was surprised she'd bluntly tell him to do that. He was expecting some sort of argument with shouts about it, something more than...just that.

"I'm telling you that someone told me to keep her away from you," the Doctor repeated, slightly irritated she didn't even care about it.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure I know who it was judging by the point of timeline you and she are in," River shrugged, "Keep her away from me, if you want. But I'm going to tell you right now that many people are going to be after her, I'm not the one you should worry about."

The Doctor raised his eyebrows, "Excuse me?"

"What you heard," River stepped back into her cell and closed the door, "You do what you have to do."

"Frankly, I'm a bit upset you don't even seem to care," the Doctor frowned, "How can you not care!? This is Avalon we're talking about! What's the matter with you?"

"Sheesh, you're overreacting aren't you?" River tilted her head, a faint smirk on her face.

"No, I am not! This is something serious and you're acting like you could care less!"

"You, on the other hand, seem to care a lot more," River remarked with innocent eyes, "More than you probably know."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Look, I completely mean what I said," River sighed, "You do what you have to do to keep Avalon safe, no matter who you have to keep her away from."

The Doctor, solemnly, nodded and turned away, vowing to do just that.

~ 0 ~

Once back in the TARDIS, the Doctor worked quite fast to get away from Stormcage, "Rory, I'm going to need thermo couplings. The green ones and the blue ones."

"OK, hold on," Rory rushed for the corridors.

Since the twins were not in the room at the moment, the Doctor took chance and moved to Amy, "So..."

"So?"

"You're OK?"

"Fine. Head's a bit weird," Amy tapped the side of her head, "There's lots of stuff I can't quite remember."

"After effect of the Silence. Natural enough. That's not what I was asking," the Doctor clarified and looked around just in case anyone was around, "You told me you were pregnant."

"Yes," she nodded.

"Why?"

"Because I was. I thought I was. Turns out I wasn't," Amy placed her hands on her flat stomach with a smile.

"No. Why did you tell me?" the Doctor clarified and leaned on the console, crossing his arms.

"You're my friend. You're my best friend."

"Did you tell Rory?"

"No."

"Amy, why tell me and not Rory?"

"Why do you think?" Amy sighed and thought about it for a moment, "I traveled with you in this TARDIS for so long. All that time. If I was pregnant for some of it, wouldn't it have had an effect? I don't want to tell Rory, this baby might have three heads, or like a time head or something."

"What's a time head?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow, amused.

"I don't know, but what if it had one?"

"A time head?"

Amy laughed of embarrassment, "Shut up, alright!" afterwards, the Doctor pointed to the corridors, making Amy realize they hadn't been speaking alone, "Oi! Stupid face."

"Er, yeah. Hello," Rory came out of the corridors with a small wave.

"Taking that away from you, if you're going to listen in all the time," Amy pointed at the recorder Rory had in his hand and was trying to hide from her.

"OK, that's a fair point. But you should've told me that you thought you were pregnant," Rory tried to make a valid argument, "I'm a nurse, I'm good with pregnancy."

Amy laughed, "Not, as it turns out, that good," she walked up and met him halfway, giving him a hug, "So can you stop being stupid?"

"Er, no. Never. I'm never, ever going to stop being stupid!" Rory shrugged and made her laugh again.

"So, this little girl, it's all about her. Who was she?" the Doctor wondered for a moment as he returned to the console, "Or we could just go off and have some adventures. Anyone in the mood for adventures? I am. You only live once."

At those words, Amy and Rory remembered the Doctor's death and kept quiet. While the Doctor had a pregnancy scan on Amy, which was confusingly switching from positive and negative, Lena came around from the second level rails, "I'm ready to go home now, big brother!" she called as Avalon emerged from the corridor upstairs.

"Do you have to leave so early, baby sister?" the Doctor pouted as she came down the stairs, "I was just telling Amy and Rory we could take an adventure."

"I'd love to but my dad is expecting me home," Lena shrugged, "Plus, I've made my choice about these travels," she smiled softly, "And I'm good where I am now, trust me."

"Oh c'mon, just one little adventure? Give those sisterly bracelets another trip around?" the Doctor nodded to the matching bracelets Lena had gotten for her and Avalon as a Christmas present. "Show them off?"

Lena looked at her sister who also gave her a pleading look. She supposed just one trip wouldn't hurt anyone, "Well...alright," the others cheered which made her laugh, "But just one trip, big brother, alright? Only one."

"I swear," the Doctor raised a hand for his promise.

Lena clapped excitedly, "Well then, take us some where fantastic!" she pointed to the console.

"Can do," the Doctor nodded and quickly worked the controls while the humans clung on, wondering just where the Doctor would land them and how much trouble they'd be in soon enough.

#ocappreciation #doctor who #11th doctor #11th doctor fics #doctor who fics #dw imagine #11th doctor imagine #doctor who imagines #11th doctor fimagines #oc: Avalon Reynolds #oc: Lena Reynolds #amy pond #rory williams #river song #fic: falling in temptation

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vancouvertrueborns · 5 years

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A new book by a self-confessed non-writer does something no author has done before: a deep dive into Canada’s largest, detached home, government housing project – the 1950s subdivision of Fraserview. Ken Creamore’s memoir, My Stuff and Welcome to It, is a brave, personal account of growing up in one of Vancouver’s most intriguing neighbourhoods.

Fraserview was a sprawling master-planned community built by the newly created Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the 1,100 homes spread over 400 acres were the direct result of a soldiers’ sit-in protest held at the old Hotel Vancouver (Georgia and Granville). Ottawa caved to the war vets’ demands for affordable housing and built the smaller subdivision of Renfrew Heights before creating the South Van hamlet with tree-lined curving streets and killer views of the Fraser River delta. Long before the feds conceived the project, a Vancouver councillor had gazed at the rural slopes and envisioned a working man’s Shaughnessy. And that’s what the CMHC tried to create.

Others have explored Fraserview’s past. The Museum of Vancouver has a display that shows a replica of a typical living room from one of those “apple box” houses that rented for $30 a month. The talented photographer Phil Hietanen, who grew up the ’hood, has shown candid and artful street shots of his friends goofing off on hillside playgrounds and lawns. The active facebook group Fraserview Baby Boomers is a forum for childhood memories and the members have organized reunions. Retired judge Wally Craig devotes a few chapters in his autobiography Short Pants to Striped Trousers to growing up in Fraserview, but his time there was before Pleasantville exploded across the landscape. Only Creamore dares to take us inside one of the “chicken coop” houses that a Vancouver builders’ association president predicted would become a slum within five years.

Creamore was one of 6,000 kids who found themselves in the newly seeded neighbourhood. The rambunctious tykes tried to stay on the good side of their post-war dads, many of whom struggled with PTSD. Ken’s dad had been in the army and did not see action, but became an alcoholic anyway. The author’s mom had the Sisyphean task of feeding, bathing and clothing eight kids in a tiny three-bedroom home with one bathroom. They stacked the kids up in bunkbeds. On freezing mornings, the family gathered around the solitary heating grate in the floor, like mourners at a wintry grave.

Fraserview did not become a slum, but it had its problems. With so many kids and so few amenities (the parks, schools, etcetera came online slowly, after the homes were built), it is not surprising that youth crime was an issue. The VPD created its youth squad in 1963 specifically to address the swarm of red pushpins that clouded Fraserview on the department’s crime map. The arrival of the counter culture revolution only added fuel to the fire.

Creamore was an insecure, epileptic kid. He never knew whether his five brothers were going to embrace him or split his lip. And he never knew when his next blackout seizure would arrive. With the potent mix of drugs, alcohol and the call for rebellion swirling around the neighbourhood, Ken could easily have ended up dead, like some of the neighbourhood youths who gravitated to skid road.

Instead, the author grew up to become a loving father and director at a huge software company. He largely attributes his success to his childhood sweetheart Helen McKie, who he met in Fraserview at age 15. My Stuff is as much a love letter to her as it is to the strange Brady Bunch-meets-post-war-housing experiment. The book will interest those curious about the tightly bonded neighbourhood and the epic marriage that blossomed from it.

My Stuff and Welcome to It will soon be available on Amazon.

Photos are from Ken Creamore’s collection.

#My Stuff and Welcome to It #Ken Creamore #Fraserview #CMHC #VPD #Wally Craig #Short Pants to Striped Trousers #Museum of Vancouver #Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation #Phil Hietanen #Hotel Vancouver #Shaughnessy #Renfrew Heights

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nextstepelectric · 5 years

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electrician services near me Woodbridge Ontario

Contents

Service orientation electrical background

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A. BRYANT SHIFLETT The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, VA, Mon, Dec. 22, 1947 Bryant Shiflett a farmer residing near Boonesville, died Saturday morning at his home.

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gulgbtqplus · 5 years

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Monthly Round Up - July

Here's what's happening in Glasgow this July! We'll be having regular meetups this month, keep an eye on our social media for details! Every Wednesday we'll be having a wlw coffee meetup in the iCafe on Woodlands road Events in Glasgow 1st July - wellbeing cafe @ Flourish House, 25 Ashley Street 18:00-20:30, a regular friendly meetup for the LGBTQ+ community in Glasgow 3rd July - Language café film night: 'A Fantastic Woman' @ 12 Queen's Crescent 18:00-21:00 6th July - T Time Glasgow @ 12 Queen's Crescent 13:00-16:00, monthly meetup for trans and nonbinary people 7th July - Trans Masculine Scotland @ Venue TBC 15:00-17:00, a support group run by and for the trans masculine community 10th July - Nonbinary night @ Waterstones Argyle street 19:00-21:00, a welcoming space for nonbinary and genderqueer people to come have a coffee and a chat 11th July - Rainbow Spoon @ Project Café Renfrew Street 18:30-20:30, a regular meet up inclusive of all identities 12th July - Trans Masculine Scotland @ Venue TBC 13th July - LGBT Autism group @ LGBT Health and Wellbeing, 12 Queen's crescent 13:00-15:00 13th July - LGBT Yoga @ Infinity Yoga, 11 Osborne Street 13:00-14:00 13th July - Vivid Hearts Pride Prep meetup @ LGBT Health and Wellbeing 12 Queen's Crescent 14:00-16:00 15th July - LGBT Language Café @ MILK Café 452 Victoria Road 18:30-20:30 18th July - T and Jam @ LGBT Health and Wellbeing 18:30-20:30, an inclusive music event for trans and nonbinary people 18th July - LGBT unity Scotland bbq 19th July - GULGBTQ+ are running a protest sign making workshop @ the QMU 20th July - MardiGla Pride march starting from Kelvingrove park, and an event at the Strathclyde union. GULGBTQ+ and the Glasgow Uni LGBT+ Staff Network will be there! 27th July - Headucation @ Venue TBC 14:00-17:00, an afternoon all about makeup and hair for trans and nonbinary people with makeup and hair professionals -booking preferred www.tinyurl.com/headucationmakeup And regular events at Category Is Bookshop: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=categoryisbooks%40gmail.com&ctz=Europe%2FLondon Media content coming out in July Vita and Virginia -film about the sapphic romance between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West directed by Chanya Button -July 5th UK release date Queer Eye -season 4 coming out on July 19th Orange Is The New Black -July 26th Shatter the Sky by Rebecca Kim Wells -queer book about girlfriends and dragon training -coming out on July 30th SciCurious Podcast episodes come out regularly- can be found on spotify, itunes, pocketcasts, podcast addict and tunein Pride events in Scotland 6th July – Fife pride 13th July – Bute pride 21st July – Proud Ness 27th July – West Lothian Pride

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madeleinelovescolours · 6 years

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Five years ago I started painting murals for the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival in the wading pool at the Rec Centre. I learnt so much along the way, and I think these bumblebees are my best work yet. I am so happy and grateful to Still Moon Arts Society for inviting me back to paint every September , and I can’t wait to do it again! . #art #painting #mural #streetart #moonfestival #communityart #communityarts #communityartproject #communityartists #artwork #muralart #murals #bees #bee #bumblebee #bumblebeeart #traditionalart #traditionalartist #painting #paint #pnwartist #bcartist #bcart (at Renfrew Park Community Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoCvWyKBd8_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kzfiw80r12s0

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architectnews · 2 years

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Scottish Architecture News: Buildings in Scotland

Scottish Building News 2022, Architecture Photos, Property Scotland Images, Architects Design Links

Scottish Architecture News

New Architecture Developments + Buildings in Scotland – Built Environment + Architects Updates

post updated 25 January 2022

Scottish Buildings News

This page contains a selection of major Scottish Architecture News, with projects arranged chronologically, latest first. Each architecture news item links to an individual project page. We’ve selected what we feel are the key Scottish Building News stories.

The focus is on contemporary Scottish buildings but we do post on changes to major traditional buildings in Scotland.

Scottish Architecture News 2021

Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list

25 Jan 2022 Glasgow School of Art fire inquiry unable to find cause

Fire investigators have failed to find a cause for the fire that destroyed Glasgow School of Art’s world-renowned Mackintosh building in 2018, report the BBC today. The blaze broke out four years after an earlier fire had caused major damage to the building on Renfrew Street.

But following an investigation lasting more than three years, the final report concluded that the cause of the second blaze remained “undetermined”. It said this was due to extensive damage and the destruction of evidence.

photo © Adrian Welch

The art school said it “shared the regret” that the exact cause of the fire had not been identified and would take time to consider the report and its recommendations.

The fire investigation, which lasted until 30 September 2021, involved the excavation and physical examination of hundreds of tonnes of fire-damaged debris. Witness testimonies, CCTV and photographic footage were also analysed.

The fire took hold as the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building neared the end of a £48m restoration, following the earlier blaze in 2014.

aerial photo courtesy of Police Scotland

However, investigators later learned that the first possible indication of fire in the area was one hour and 34 minutes before the first 999 call. A member of the public walking along Renfrew Street at about 21:45 smelled “burned material”.

At its height, more than 120 firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the fire.

24 Jan 2022 ARC: Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow welcomes the first researchers into its pioneering flagship research facility, the ARC (Advanced Research Centre). The £116 m, 16,000 sqm building will house a collaborative community of academics from across a range of disciplines and will be fully operational from Spring this year: University of Glasgow ARC

15 Jan 2022 Milngavie Streetscape, Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire Design: Page\Park Architects photography : ZAC and ZAC Milngavie Streetscape Located at a key town centre node, the central part of the project is a new gathering area, formed of seating, planters, and interpretative elements. Located at the start of the West Highland Way, the area is frequently busy with large groups of walkers and tourists, in addition to families visiting the adjacent play park.

9 Dec 2021 Artists studio Garage Conversion, Edinburgh, south east Scotland Design: Konishi Gaffney Architects photography : ZAC and ZAC Artists studio Garage Conversion, Edinburgh The Artists studio Garage Conversion project was to form a new studio space for an artist. Konishi Gaffney Architects repurposed the existing garage, infilled a new floor and the old garage door and fully insulated and improved the interior.

6 Dec 2021 West Town – Vision Unveiled for New Edinburgh Neighbourhood West Town Edinburgh Property Vision Space for 7,000 New Homes Plus Commercial and Community Facilities at 205-acre Site in West Edinburgh. The development consortium which owns more than 200 acres of prime development land in the west of Edinburgh has unveiled an ambitious vision for a significant new neighbourhood to be built on the site.

6 Dec 2021 Cammo Meadows by CALA Homes Cammo Meadows by CALA Homes News A style of housing intrinsic to the Scottish capital is launching at a development in a sought-after suburb. Cammo Meadows by CALA Homes (East) is the latest destination for the developer’s reimagining of the traditional Edinburgh colony model, which consists of a ground floor apartment with two duplex homes above it, accessed by an external staircase.

3 Dec 2021 House for a Chemist, Seamill, North Ayrshire, South West Scotland Design: Brown & Brown Architects photo : Edmund Sumner House in Seamill, North Ayrshire ‘Create a whisper, not a shout’ was the brief given to Brown & Brown Architects by their clients, who have raised their family on the Ayrshire coast within sight of the Isle of Arran, and feel have a deep-rooted connection to this stretch of coastline. It was very important that any new additions were visually subservient to the original house, a traditional Victorian villa of red sandstone, which had faced the elements for more than 150 years.

24 Nov 2021 2021 Saltire Housing Design Awards photo : Chris Smith 2021 Saltire Society Housing Design Awards Winners The Saltire Society today announced the shortlisted houses for the 2021 Saltire Housing Design Awards, which celebrate the diversity of the best in new housing in Scotland. Supported by the Scottish Government, the Award recognises the contribution housing makes to social and cultural conversations and rewards innovation.

24 Nov 2021 Digital Transformation for Planning in Scotland The delivery of the Digital Transformation for Planning in Scotland is well underway, following the programme’s launch in April 2021. Read the news in full at Edinburgh Building News 2021

21 Nov 2021 The Angus golf resort, hotel and spa design Design: 3DReid Architects, Edinburgh image courtesy of architects practice The Angus golf resort, hotel and spa design An updated masterplan for a £100m world-class golf resort, hotel and spa in the Angus countryside has been submitted to Angus Council for planning consent by 3DReid architects. The Angus represents one of the biggest hospitality investments in Scotland in recent years and could contribute more than £40m to the local economy per year once it’s operational.

4 Nov 2021 Rainbow Pavilion, Strathclyde Country Park, south east of Glasgow, central Scotland Design: O’DonnellBrown, Architects with artist Kate V Robertson photo © Ross Campbell Rainbow Pavilion in Strathclyde Country Park Today, to mark Outdoor Classroom Day, a global movement to inspire and celebrate outdoor play and learning, North Lanarkshire Council has unveiled an exciting new addition to its facilities at Strathclyde Country Park: a large multi-use structure and artwork to accommodate and promote outdoor learning and events. It is the result of a creative collaboration between Glasgow-based artist Kate V Robertson and award-winning architects O’DonnellBrown, and the primary schoolchildren of New Monkland Primary School.

3 Nov 2021 UN Centres of Excellence for High-Performance Buildings

29 Oct 2021 Zero-carbon COP26 House opens its doors to the public, Broomielaw, Glasgow photo courtesy of architects office Zero-carbon COP26 House Glasgow, Scotland COP26 House, which demonstrates how beautiful, affordable homes can help meet global climate change ambitions, will open its doors to the public for two weeks only from Monday, 1 November. Built by Glasgow-based regeneration specialists Urban Union for the UN Climate Change Conference, the zero-carbon timber-frame building was developed by Beyond Zero Homes.

28 Oct 2021 UK needs to grow back better to build back better, timber conference to hear photo courtesy of architecture office COP26 Wood for Good conference A focus on sustainable forestry from the ground up could be the key to building back better, one of the leading voices on timber architecture and construction has said ahead of the Wood for Good conference running alongside COP26 next week. Andrew Waugh of Waugh Thistleton Architects, and a pioneer of low-carbon design, said that managing our homegrown timber resources from the forest floor up is critical to supporting growing demand from the construction sector as it looks to more widely adopt sustainable materials.

28 Oct 2021 Climate Change Events in Scotland Climate Change Events in Scotland

23 Oct 2021 Boreraig House, Galtrigill, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, north west Scotland Design: Dualchas Architects photo : Andrew Lee Boreraig House in Galtrigill, Isle of Skye The multi-award winning Boreraig House has been inspired by the Scottish blackhouse, but abstracted in to modern architecture. The client inherited the croft from his mother, and he wanted to build a home that connected with the landscape and the local heritage.

22 Oct 2021 The Glasgow School of Art shares outcome of detailed analysis of options for the Mackintosh Building photograph © McAteer Mackintosh Building Options, Glasgow School of Art The Glasgow School of Art has shared the outcome of a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the Mackintosh Project, a rigorous analysis of the options for the Mackintosh Building. Commissioned by the GSA from external consultants (a hub West-led team including Avison Young) the analysis was undertaken in line with the HM Treasury Green Book guidance and Scottish Public Investment Manual.

22 October 2021 Fife College to progress first net-zero college building, Eastern Scotland Design: Reiach and Hall architects image courtesy of architects practice Fife College Dunfermline Campus Building The Scottish Government has agreed that Fife College can progress to the next stage of its project to deliver the first net zero tertiary education building in Scotland. Having submitted the business case for the new Dunfermline campus in August, Scottish ministers agreed to invest up to £100 million in providing a low carbon, modern, flexible learning space for students.

7 Oct 2021 RHSPT Welcomes Approval Of New National Centre For Music The Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT) has welcomed today’s decision by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Finance and Resources Committee to approve the restoration of the iconic Thomas Hamilton building on Calton Hill as a world-class centre for music education and public performance for the benefit of the whole of Scotland: New National Centre For Music Edinburgh

7 Oct 2021 CSIC to showcase the built environment’s role in combatting climate change Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is set to put the built environment at the heart of addressing climate change by hosting an international showcase that will run alongside the COP26 summit from 1-12 November. Through an extensive programme of activity at its Innovation Factory in Hamilton, CSIC will demonstrate the low and zero-carbon alternatives available to the construction sector and the emerging opportunities to build more sustainably: Construction Scotland Innovation Centre at COP26

7 Oct 2021 BDP Makes A Return To Edinburgh With Pattern Acquisition photo courtesy of architects office BDP returns to Edinburgh with Pattern acquisition BDP’s recent acquisition of the specialist sports and stadia architecture firm, Pattern Design – the practice delivering Everton FC’s new £500 million waterfront stadium – results in BDP’s return to Edinburgh. Previously, BDP held an Edinburgh office from 2008 to 2011.

10 Sep 2021 Bell Street Stables, Glasgow – wins Historic Environment Scotland Conservation and Climate Change Award photo © Andrew Lee Bell Street Stables Glasgow Building A remarkable conversion of a Victorian council depot to create 52 new homes for affordable rent in the centre of Glasgow has been named as the winner of Historic Environment Scotland’s Conservation and Climate Change Award, a Special Category Award of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland’s (RIAS) Awards.

10 September 2021 Water’s Edge, Camperdown Street, Dundee, East Scotland Design: Nicoll Russell Studios photo : Fraser Band, courtesy of Nicoll Russell Studio architects practice Water’s Edge Dundee Building Water’s Edge is the transformation of another industrial building, this time a mid C19th transit shed later extended to double its size, immediately adjacent to Dundee’s Camperdown Dock.

6 Sep 2021 Kelvin Hall television and film studio, Glasgow Design: Reiach and Hall Architects image courtesy of architecture practice Kelvin Hall Glasgow television and film studio Glasgow City Council secured funding from the Scottish Government to develop a new television and film studio as part of the ongoing refurbishment of the city’s historic Kelvin Hall. The production facility will support Glasgow’s dynamic screen and creative industries sector; an industry estimated to be worth up to £500m to Scotland each year with 60% of its revenue generated in Glasgow.

3 Sep 2021 New National Centre For Music At Old Royal High School, Edinburgh image courtesy of architects practice New National Centre For Music Edinburgh The Royal High School Preservation Trust has submitted detailed proposals to City of Edinburgh Council for the restoration of the iconic Thomas Hamilton building on Calton Hill as a world-class centre for music education and public performance for the benefit of the whole of Scotland. The Trust’s ambitions have evolved into a vision for a new National Centre for Music with clearly defined spaces for classical music education, community access and engagement and performance.

18 Aug 2021 St James Quarter , central Edinburgh Architects: BDP Glasgow studio + Allan Murray Architects St James Quarter Edinburgh BDP has helped complete the delivery of phase one of the new St James Quarter, Edinburgh, working with client Nuveen Real Estate to create a new destination in the heart of the capital. A new and modern 1.7 million sq ft masterplan in urban placemaking, it is one of the UK’s largest inner-city regeneration projects.

10 August 2021 Designing a lower carbon Scotland

Keep Scotland Beautiful partners with Architecture and Design Scotland to develop and deliver bespoke version of accredited Climate Emergency Training

All 26 staff at Architecture and Design Scotland undertook Climate Emergency Training in July as the organisation became one of the first in Scotland’s design and construction sector to take the accredited training, developed with, and provided by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.

Designing a lower carbon Scotland

Keep Scotland Beautiful is your charity for Scotland’s environment. They work with people to help combat climate change, reduce litter and waste, and protect and enhance the places we care for. They support the ambitions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.https://ift.tt/3GWfU7Q

Keep Scotland Beautiful offers a portfolio of Climate Emergency Training to support organisations, businesses, communities, young people and individuals to understand the climate emergency and respond to the risks, opportunities and responsibilities ahead. Further details at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/climate-emergency-training

The Climate Emergency Training will be fully accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project. Carbon Literacy is an awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis. Further details at https://carbonliteracy.com

27 July 2021 3DReid Student Prize 2021 Winner Tiia’s project, Cloud Cooperative, tackles the subject of data, challenging the current monopoly on the ownership and storage of our private information. Her response to an infrastructure which is otherwise hidden, inaccessible, remote and abstract is a community-owned research facility that is accessible to all and marries architecture and technology beautifully and responsibly: 3DReid Student Prize 2021 Winner News

27 July 2021 Icebox Challenge Glasgow Design The Architecture students from The Scott Sutherland School at Robert Gordon University recently won a national competition to design a highly energy efficient buildings that marks the build up to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow: Icebox Challenge Glasgow

23 Jul 2021 Learning & Teaching Building at the University of Strathclyde, central Glasgow Design: BDP Glasgow Studio, Architects photograph : David Barbour Learning and Teaching Building University of Strathclyde The Learning and Teaching Project is a unique and collective hub for students and staff, comprising a variety of learning and teaching spaces, from small breakout spaces to a 400 seat lecture theatre. The range of spaces is reflective of the varying needs of activities throughout the building.

18 July 2021 Scottish Design Awards 2021 Winners News Scottish Design Awards 2021 Winners

13 July 2021 Glasgow Queen Street Station Building News photo : Nick Caville Glasgow Queen Street Station Building The constraints of the tunnel throat meant a significant part of the platform extensions would be southward displacing the concourse from beneath the train shed to the area between its fanlight and West George Street. The new concourse’s architecture had to work hard to provide the functionality required.

22 June 2021 Scottish design project makes AJ Architecture Awards shortlist Calton Hill City Observatory Edinburgh design by HarrisonStevens: Calton Hill City Observatory in Scotland’s capital has been nominated for an AJ Architecture Award this week. The design by HarrisonStevens, the Edinburgh-based Landscape Architects and Urban Designers, Calton Hill City Observatory has been nominated in the Landscape and Public Realm category in the annual awards: Edinburgh Building News 2021

9 Jun 2021 Kincardine, Places for Everyone News A community-led design project in a Fife town has been nominated for a Scottish Design Award. Created by HarrisonStevens, the Edinburgh-based Landscape Architects and Urban Designers, the Kincardine, Places for Everyone project has been nominated in the Future Building or Project category in the annual awards: Kincardine, Places for Everyone Project

28 May 2021 Pleasure Scene Exhibition – The Digital Culture of Contemporary Architectural Drawings

11 June – 25 July 2021 29 Trafalgar Avenue, London, SE15 6NP, England, UK

Pleasure Scene Exhibition

The inaugural exhibition at Trafalgar Avenue marks the culmination of an 18-month collaborative project bringing together nine artists from across the UK to respond to the iconic modernist ruin, St Peter’s Seminary, Scotland.

20 May 2021 European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention 2021

rankinfraser landscape architecture are shortlisted for The Dunbar Battery in East Lothian. It is one of ten works in category B – Exterior Spaces – judged by the architects, Delphine Péters, Olga Felip and Isabel Aguirre, after evaluating 49 participating proposals.

The Dunbar Battery, Dunbar, Scotland, United Kingdom. rankinfraser landscape architecture photo © rankinfraser landscape architecture

The 5th edition of European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention, with a success of participation that coincides with the celebration of its 10th anniversary, publishes the names of those shortlisted in the a and b categories.

European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention 2021

11 May 2021 First Passivhaus Primary School, Perth and Kinross Design: Architype Architects image courtesy of architecture practice North Perth Passivhaus Primary School The school, which will replace both the current North Muirton and Balhousie Primary Schools, is being delivered by Robertson Construction Tayside on behalf of hub East Central with Architype as both Lead Consultant and Passivhaus Designer.

23 Apr 2021

New leisure centre in Ayr

hub South West and contractor, BAM, set to revive Ayr town centre with construction of new leisure facility

Work to develop a new leisure centre in Ayr is progressing following South Ayrshire Council’s appointment of hub South West, the construction and infrastructure-focused partnership which operates alongside local Authorities and private sector enterprises in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway:

Read the news in full at New leisure centre in Ayr

2 Apr 2021

Trust objects to plan for 82 houses and a ‘visitor centre’ adjacent to The Pineapple, Hill of Airth

Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland has lodged a formal objection to a planning application lodged by George Russell Construction for a housing development at Mains Farm, Airth, directly adjacent to The Pineapple and the historic Dunmore Estate. Dating to 1761, The A-Listed Pineapple is one of Scotland’s most exotic and celebrated buildings and was constructed by the Earl of Dunmore amid a purpose-designed landscape. The property has been in the Trust’s care since 1973.

The Pineapple, Dunmore Estate: photo © The Dunmore Pineapple, Falkirk. David Robertson 1999, National Trust for Scotland

An unsolicited proposal for a visitor centre along with 22 houses was made public in 2018 and the Trust entered into correspondence with the developer. Contrary to the impression given in the developer’s Design and Access Statement, the Trust did not endorse the proposals and merely requested assurances on the ecological impact on rare species as well as clarification on the purpose of the visitor centre. No such assurances were forthcoming and the developer eventually withdrew the planning application for this initial scheme.

The new application, which is now under consideration by Falkirk Council, almost quadruples the number of proposed houses to 82. The overall scheme causes the Trust great concern for the integrity and setting of the landscape around the Pineapple, as well as the threat to wildlife. It is also the Trust’s view that a development in this location would set a planning precedent that may mean more of the area being re-zoned for development.

The National Trust for Scotland’s Chief Executive, Phil Long said:

“The Pineapple is one of the most significant buildings in Scotland and its unique ambience is dependent on its setting within Dunmore Park with its woodland and abundant wildlife.

“It is clear to us that this development scheme would have a hugely adverse impact on the site, which is designated within the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. As we have seen all too often, inappropriately-scaled and sited developments have impaired or overwhelmed many important historic and natural landscapes and it’s our obligation to ensure that this does not happen to The Pineapple.”

2 Mar 2021 Radisson Hotel Objection News

From Architect Alan Dunlop:

As the architect and designer of the Radisson SAS, a project that has garnered many architecture and hotel design awards, nationally and internationally. I write to object in the strongest possible terms to these proposals.

photograph : Andrew Lee

Read Professor Alan Dunlop’s objection in full at Radisson Hotel Glasgow

Readers comments welcome – this is one of gm+ad’s major works, the planning submission pushes the glass volume out into the street, and creates a new entrance at the north west corner. Alan Dunlop’s original design gave back space to Argyle Street, encouraging a generous approach to the public realm in the heart of Scotland’s largest city.

26 Feb 2021 Lower Tullochgrue, Aviemore, northern Scotland Design: Brown & Brown Architects photograph © Gillian Hayes Lower Tullochgrue, Aviemore Lower Tullochgrue is the refurbishment and extension of a traditional house in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. A dilapidated steading has been replaced by a contemporary extension, with a timber and glass upper volume above a stone plinth, with the existing topography of the site maintained at all times.

26 Feb 2021 Strone Cottage, Scottish Highlands Design: Loader Monteith Architects photography : Nigel Rigden and Gillian Hayes Strone Cottage, Scottish Highlands The Strone Cottage is the adaptive restoration and extension of a highland bothy in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland.

12 Feb 2021 Upper Parkbrae House, Oyne, Aberdeenshire, North East Scotland Design: Brown & Brown Architects photograph © Nigel Rigden Upper Parkbrae House, Aberdeenshire This contemporary Scottish property design is comprised of a timber and glass box, which is cantilevered above the landscape, and sited on a stone wall which runs both inside and outside of the building.

11 Feb 2021 ER Residence, Glasgow Property

10 Feb 2021 Langside Halls Queen’s Park, Glasgow

5 Feb 2021 Scottish Design Awards 2021 Programme

1 Feb 2021 Kingsborough Gardens, Glasgow

Scottish Architecture News 2020

Summer to Winter news items:

18 Dec 2020 Literature House for Scotland, John Knox House, Edinburgh Winning Architects: Witherford Watson Mann ; Groves-Raines Architects Studios ; Studio MB photograph © Daniel Lomholt-Welch Literature House for Scotland Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust has selected Stirling Prize winning architectural firm Witherford Watson Mann to lead the next phase of development at the Literature House in Edinburgh. They will be working in partnership with Groves-Raines Architects Studios and Edinburgh-based Studio MB.

20 Nov 2020 Cloch Lighthouse in Gourock Design: Benjamin Tindall Architects Cloch Lighthouse in Gourock Guiding light. Dougall Baillie Associates to advise on changes to home at the Cloch Lighthouse. The professional services of a Lanarkshire civil and structural specialist have been enlisted to advise on a significant upgrade to accommodation at one of Scotland’s most picturesque and dramatically-situated lighthouses.

19 Nov 2020 Holiday Inn Pacific Quay Hotel Architects: Mosaic Architecture + Design image courtesy of architects Holiday Inn Pacific Quay Hotel Glasgow Mosaic Architecture + Design, one of Scotland’s most experienced practices, has secured Glasgow City Council planning approval to build an £18m Holiday Inn Pacific Quay hotel on the site of the former Glasgow Garden Festival.

10 Nov 2020 Quarry Studios, Deeside, Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Highlands Design: Moxon Architects photo © Timothy Soar Quarry Studios in Cairngorms Quarry Studios is conceptually anchored in the landscape by two main elements; vertical concrete chimneys acting as a counterpoint to the low profile of the roof and a massive timber wall that intersects each volume.

6 Nov 2020 Laurieston Living Award News Design of Phase 2: architects Anderson Bell Christie image courtesy of architects Laurieston Living Glasgow A local Glasgow housing development has been named the best Affordable Housing Development of the Year in Scotland. Laurieston Living, which is being delivered by Scottish home builder Urban Union, scooped the award at this year’s Scottish Home Awards – seeing off competition from across the country.

5 Nov 2020 Chivas Brothers HQ in Glasgow International design studio Graven, has designed new, award-winning offices for Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard, on Blythswood Square in Glasgow’s city centre: Chivas Brothers Glasgow

29 Oct 2020 Science Centre Glasgow Photos We took some photos of this cluster of interesting buildings in a rare window of good weather: photo © Adrian Welch

photo © Adrian Welch

photo © Adrian Welch Science Centre Glasgow

29 Oct 2020 Canonmills Garden Recognised for Success at the Scottish Homes Awards

Canonmills Garden, Artisan Real Estate’s stylish new homes development in Edinburgh, is in the running for two prestigious accolades in this year’s Scottish Home Awards which takes place on Thursday (October 29):

Canonmills Garden Edinburgh

8 Oct 2020 Langside Halls Queen’s Park, Glasgow

11 Sep 2020 Scottish Design Awards 2020 Winners

11 Sep 2020 The Carpenter’s House, Stenton, East Lothian

10 Sep 2020 Scottish Architecture Conference The programme for the RIAS 2020 convention has been announced. With the Grain will run online from Monday 28 Sept – Friday 2 October: RIAS Convention 2020: With the Grain

7 Sep 2020 Hidden Stories Map: Glasgow Doors Open Day

4 Sep 2020 St Peter’s Seminary Cardross Building

30 July 2020

Planning Application Submitted for New Town Quarter Development

Plans have now been submitted for one of the largest developments to come forward in Edinburgh’s city centre for a generation.

Ediston and Orion Capital Managers have been working together on their shared vision for New Town Quarter, previously known as New Town North, since last year and have carried out what has been one of the largest consultations ever on a city centre development.

New Town Quarter Development

27 July 2020

Maven acquires site in Edinburgh

Maven Capital Partners, a leading UK property and private equity manager, has purchased a site at Murieston Crescent, Edinburgh, for the development of a purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) complex.

Murieston Crescent Edinburgh

21 July 2020 Builders frustrated by poor performance on crucial planning decisions

Responding to official planning performance statistics for 2019/20 published today, trade body Homes for Scotland (HFS) described another overall increase in decision times for housing applications as “hugely frustrating”.

Director of Planning Tammy Swift-Adams said:

“Despite an 11.5 per cent drop in the number of decisions made on local housing applications (defined as being for less than 50 homes), the time taken to make those decisions crept up for the second year running.

“This is concerning given that these small developments are, by nature, the lifeblood of SME home building businesses – a sector supported by Scottish Government loan funding during the crisis, but also needing local government support if it is to thrive”.

“Things are no more positive for major housing applications (those for 50 or more homes), decisions on which were two weeks slower than the previous year at 37.5 weeks – more than double the 16 week statutory timescale.”

“With all of the consultation and discussion time that has gone into improving the planning system, it is extremely frustrating to see this evidence that improvements are just not emerging on the ground.”

“And, of course, we also await the Scottish Government’s decision on whether planning application fees will be increased again. This decision, and the timing of its implementation, must be made in the context of this performance – with home builders currently receiving some of the poorest service across the system whilst already paying the lion’s share of fees.”

Swift-Adams also points to the Scottish Government’s new consultation document proposing changes to Scottish Planning Policy. These include removing the principle that planning applications that will help solve housing shortages should be looked upon favourably by decision-makers. The paper also seems to suggest that planning authorities should focus more singly on allocating their preferred sites and pay less regard to whether or not the homes that are needed are actually going to be built.

She continued:

“Scottish families and communities don’t need housing land. They want real homes to live in, and more of them. That requires a better functioning system and policy that encourages local planning authorities to ensure the sites they choose for housing development can and will be delivered. With the housing market showing encouraging signs post-lockdown, now is the time for local authorities to work closely with home builders to deliver the homes required.”

More Scottish architecture news is welcome on e-architect

Scotland Building Updates Early 2020

Winter to Summer news items:

4 June 2020 Red Tree Magenta, Shawfield, Glasgow Design: NORR, Architects photo © Keith Hunter Photography Red Tree Magenta Building Clyde Gateway embarked on delivering the first commercial building at the 11ha Magenta Business Park site, Shawfield to act as a catalyst to the market, prove it as a business location and to demonstrate the viability of the remediation strategy for the wider site.

27 May 2020 New Homes Quality Board – interim board announcement

First step towards creation of New Homes Ombudsman scheme

The first step towards the creation of a New Homes Ombudsman (NHO) scheme has been announced with the appointment of an interim New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) chaired by “New Homes Quality Champion” Natalie Elphicke MP.

As a new independent body, the NHQB will have responsibility for the quality of new build homes and consumer redress. It will be guided by the principles of independence, transparency and integrity, and will comprise a mix of representatives of consumer bodies, home builders, warranty providers, lenders and independents such that it will not be dominated by any one group.

The interim board has ‘met’ for the first time and will now:

• oversee the composition and appointment of a permanent board; • complete, consult on and adopt a new comprehensive and robust industry code of practice that will place more stringent requirements on all parties involved in the construction, inspection, sale and aftercare of new homes; • agree a process to appoint a New Homes Ombudsman (NHO) service to adjudicate against the new code.

Nicola Barclay, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, said:

“While housing is a matter that is devolved to the Scottish Government, consumer protection remains a reserved matter and so comes under the responsibility of Westminster, making a UK-wide solution crucially important. Working closely with colleagues in the Home Builders Federation in England, we are delighted to see this progression which reinforces our determination to ensure a high-quality home for each and every purchaser. We are also pleased that the stringent requirements will see consumers receive the same level of clarity and consistency wherever they live.”

The ambition is that a permanent chair and board will be in place by Autumn with a view to the new code and ombudsman service being in place by the start of 2021. There will then be a transition period for builders to sign up to the new arrangements. It is anticipated Government will ultimately legislate to improve consumer redress as soon as possible and these new proposals aim to complement such reform.

Natalie Elphicke said: “This is a welcome move, and a much needed step in the right direction. I am committed to ensuring that the new arrangements will deliver a step change in the quality of new homes and customer experience. They will be based in the principles of independence, transparency and integrity, values I know Government and the industry are determined to instil. I look forward to working with all parties to finalise and implement these changes as quickly as possible.”

All the new arrangements will be paid for by the industry and once established, the NHO will be free to consumers, with access being through a new portal.

Natalie Elphicke is a qualified barrister and solicitor. In 2015 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to housing. Natalie’s background is as a national specialist in complex housing and structured finance law and public policy. A former international law firm partner with over £4billion transactional experience, she had been described as “probably the best in the City” in her specialist area of housing.

She has extensive experience structuring and successfully setting up new organisations in her professional capacities, working with a diverse range of stakeholders. This includes most recently at the Housing & Finance Institute. She has a strong reputation as an independent commentator on housing matters ranging from housing policies to building new homes faster as well as in relation to the quality and safety of new build construction.

Natalie is a member of the Jaywick Sands coastal community team and a member of the NHBC advisory panel. She is a voluntary worker at her local homeless shelter, having previously volunteered at free legal/advice centres over many years. In December 2019, Natalie was elected as a Member of Parliament for Dover & Deal.

21 Apr 2020 Housing delivery can build way out of coronavirus crisis

Responding to today’s publication of the latest UK State of the Economy report, Chief Executive of industry body Homes for Scotland Nicola Barclay said:

“Whilst public health has quite rightly been the government’s top priority up to now, it is clear that the economic fallout could have even further reaching consequences for the country. Today’s report highlights that Scotland’s GDP could fall by 33% during the current period of social distancing, with construction noted as one of the most exposed sectors.

“We share the Economy Secretary’s desire to rebuild the economy as quickly as is safely possible and believe that we can, quite literally, build our way out of this. This is why we are working on a recovery plan which includes the core components necessary to kickstart home building, including putting robust control measures in place to protect workers, home purchasers and tenants, as well as working across the sector to ensure everyone is ready to go as soon as we can.

“Delivering the homes of all types that our country needs brings many significant benefits in terms of protecting vital jobs and skills, improving social wellbeing and contributing more widely to the economy through the extensive supply chain.

“Restarting from a standstill requires considerable planning and co-ordination so it is imperative that the Scottish Government works closely with industry to establish a programme for recommencement so we can provide the homes that so many people desperately need.”

9 Apr 2020 Mark Baines, Glasgow School of Art

Mark Baines, who has been a seminal part of the School for 50 years, has passed away (not Covid-19 related).

Mark was one of the first cohort to study on the full time programme at the Mac, went on to work with Andy and Isi at Gillespie Kidd & Coia, with Ian O Robertson Architect and Ian Bridges Architect before returning to GSA to teach generations of architecture students, most recently as Stage Leader for the DipArch programme.

Below is a tribute from his long-time colleague Johnny Rodger, Professor of Urban Literature at The Glasgow School of Art:

Mark Baines

It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing away of our colleague Mark Baines. As an esteemed and respected teacher, practitioner and critic, Mark Baines played a distinctive and vital role at the heart of architectural culture in Glasgow and Scotland in general. Any comprehensive list of his important achievements and his experiences could never be retailed in the space available here, and his place in Glasgow life was a unique one.

His long connection with the Mackintosh School of Architecture started in the early 70s when he was amongst the first cohort of full time architecture students at his beloved Glasgow School of Art. After going out to work as a practising architect for a few years he returned to teach in the school in 1982 and he taught there right up until 2020.

Generations of students were influenced by his encyclopaedic knowledge of the field and his quiet, patient, insightful and inspirational analyses which opened up a whole new spatial and structural world to them. He was the critical eminence grise behind the student edited annual MacMag, and he guided and oversaw the production of that publication which has refined and exposed the creative spirit of the Mac students since 1974. Public recognition of his position as a towering figure in the pedagogical culture of the Mac came when at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland’s annual Design Tutor of the Year Awards in 2013 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.

After MSA Mark started his professional career at the firm of Gillespie Kidd and Coia. The firm had a long association with teaching in the school going back to the 1920s and arguably longer, and Mark joined them as they were at the cutting edge of the rebuilding of the country after WWII. His experience there under the tutelage of Isi Metzstein and Andy MacMillan, set the standards for his own life as an architect and architectural teacher in terms of the fundamental importance of drawing, the vision of the discipline as a collaborative one through the methodologies of the studio, and the necessity of a discursive critical approach to the work.

Mark went on to work with other firms like Ian O Robertson Architect and Ian Bridges Architect through the eighties and onwards , especially on housing projects, and in 2007 completed the design and construction of the massive Merchant Building –a contemporary response in scale and material to the historical setting of Glasgow Cross – with his firm Gholami Baines.

As a critic Mark Baines played a prominent role as a public intellectual, writing chapters and articles for magazines, books and catalogues, putting on exhibitions and giving talks to innumerable groups and societies. Although his knowledge of architecture and architectural history was inexhaustible, and his moral and ethical discourses on where we live and how we do it drew a broad civic public, he became particularly well known for his critiques in a few specialist areas. After working with GKC and studying their work he became one of the acknowledged world experts in the field, writing extensively on the importance of their work in an international sense.

Among the exhibitions he curated on the GKC work, his 2007 one drew the biggest viewing public that The Lighthouse has ever had for any show. He was also an authority on the great 19th century Glasgow architect, Greek Thomson, wrote extensively on his work, campaigned to save numerous of his buildings, and was Chair Person of the Greek Thomson Society. Although his own tastes and indeed practice were of a contemporary not to say modernist outlook, Mark Baines worked tirelessly to broadcast to the world the genius of Thomson’s work and his importance to architectural history.

Mark was a respected and admired colleague, and was recognised by his fellows for the perspicacity of his vision, the originality and acuity of his judgement and the consistency of his approach. For many people he embodied the successes of the studio system at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, as a humane teaching and learning environment. Generations of students and colleagues from all around the world have been humbled then inspired by the breadth of his culture and his willingness to share it. He will be missed greatly at the Glasgow School of Art to which he was totally committed as a creative and collaborative institution.

Johnny Rodger, Professor of Urban Literature at The Glasgow School of Art

9 Apr 2020 New Town North Development at Former RBS Site image courtesy of architects Edinburgh New Town North Development

10 Mar 2020 Judges line up for 2020 Scottish Design Awards

The judging panels for the 2020 Scottish Design Awards have been confirmed with a mix of figures from industry and academia coming together to celebrate the nation’s best new work:

2020 Scottish Design Awards News

29 Feb 2020 Celebrate Perth’s New Creative Hub – Official Opening and First Exhibition Perth Creative Exchange, a £4.5 million creative hub which will help boost the local Perthshire arts economy, was officially opened at a launch ceremony on Wednesday February 26, by the Provost of Perth and Kinross, Dennis Melloy. photo : Fraser Band Perth’s New Creative Hub

29 Jan 2020 The Watch House, Crail, Crail, Fife, Eastern Scotland Architect: Alan Dunlop drawing © Alan Dunlop The Watch House in Crail, Fife Planning Approval and Listed Building and Conservation Area Consent granted unconditionally for this historic property renovation in Crail. The building is listed and sits within the conservation area in Crail, overlooking the Firth of Forth and The Isle of May.

17 Jan 2020 Paisley Museum Building News, western Scotland Design: AL_A image courtesy of architects office Paisley Museum Renewal Plans to transform Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination telling the town’s unique stories, including that of the globally admired Paisley Pattern, have taken a major step forward as The National Lottery Heritage Fund announced £3.8million of support for the project.

25 Feb 2020 The Glasgow School of Art appoints Penny Macbeth as new Director The Glasgow School of Art has appointed Penny Macbeth, currently Dean of Manchester School of Art and Deputy Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor for Arts and Humanities focusing on external engagement and partnerships, as its new Director following an extensive international search: New Glasgow School of Art Director: Penny Macbeth

25 Jan 2020 New Gorbals Housing Association, Crown Street, Glasgow Design: Page\Park Architects photograph : Keith Hunter New Gorbals Housing Association Glasgow The new home of the New Gorbals Housing Association is a bespoke office and civic piazza forming the centrepiece of the Crown Street redevelopment in Glasgow.

7 Jan 2020 Lesley Samuel joins Halliday Fraser Munro as a landscape architect

A rise in masterplanning project wins across Scotland has seen award-winning architectural design and planning practice Halliday Fraser Munro bring high-level expertise to its team, adding landscape architectural services to its portfolio:

More info on the Edinburgh Architecture News 2020 page

More contemporary Scottish Architecture News on e-architect soon

Scottish Architecture News 2019

27 Nov 2019 Ashtree Road Pollokshaws Award News

Graeme Nicholls Architects along with clients Home Group in Scotland and Merchant Homes Partnerships are celebrating this week after their Ashtree Road development won not one, but two awards at the prestigious 2019 AJ Architecture Awards.

Ashtree Road Buildings

10 Oct 2019 ; 23 May 2019 New Macallan Distillery Building, Speyside – 2019 RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award Winner Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners ; Exhibition Design: Atelier Brückner photo © Speirs + Major New Macallan Distillery Building The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience in Speyside reveals the production processes and welcomes visitors while remaining sensitive to the beautiful surrounding countryside.

5 Oct 2019 Scottish Architecture Student Films Two films here, by Edinburgh architecture student Daniel Lomholt-Welch:

Schiehallion:

youtube

Fragmentation:

youtube

1 Oct 2019 Perth Affordable Housing Electric Car Charging Points Perth housing development news: Muirton Living

25 Sep 2019 RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2019

24 Sep 2019 RIAS respond to Public Enquiry into 2 Scottish Hospitals

The Scottish Government has announced a public inquiry will be held to examine issues at the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) sites.

RIAS President Robin Webster OBE says; “The RIAS welcome the move by Health Minister Jeane Freeman’s to hold an inquiry into the delivery of Scotland’s 2 hospitals. This follows our earlier support for inquiries into failures in Schools across Scotland and our continued involvement in these discussions.

The removal of a co-ordinating overseer with professional independence; a broad and comprehensive understanding of the building design and the procurement process; with the time to apply that understanding and vitally, the executive authority to influence it, has inevitably allowed many gaps in the procurement process to open up; such that responsibilities are clouded, and appropriate resolution of issues fails to occur.”

18 Sep 2019 Fairways – Townhouses, St Andrews, Fife Design: Sutherland Hussey Harris image courtesy of architecture office Fairways Townhouses by St Andrews Old Course The Fairways – Townhouses in St Andrews are laid out so that one taller, tower-like building form addresses the urban setting facing towards the town centre.

6 Sep 2019 Whitehorn Hall Student Accommodation, St Andrews, Fife Whitehorn Hall Student Accommodation

8 Sep 2019 Scottish Design Awards Winners Clydebank Community Sports Hub by Marc-Kilkenny Architects wins: Scottish Design Awards 2019 Winners

6 Sep 2019 Paisley Museum Renewal News Paisley Museum Renewal News Paisley Museum Renewal, Scotland, design by AL_A, transforming the building into a world-class destination showcasing the stories of a Scottish town whose influence reached around the globe.

2 Sep 2019 £200m construction projects signal Glasgow move for architects Halliday Fraser Munro

Barclays Campus, Buchanan Wharf architects Halliday Fraser Munro relocate to larger Glasgow office after winning £200m worth of city construction projects

Halliday Fraser Munro Architects in Glasgow

Scottish Buildings News in 2nd Part of 2019

Scottish Building News 2019 image courtesy of HfS

Scottish property news from earlier in 2019:

Scottish Architecture News 2019

More Scottish Architecture news online soon

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Sunlight filtering through.

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Top 11 Cheap or Free Things to Do in Toronto

Like any type of huge North American city, Toronto can consume a great deal of your traveling budget plan with constant lures in the form of purchasing, great foods, and various other luxury extravagances. Yet, in some cases free or inexpensive tasks offer site visitors an experience that is a lot more genuine than regular traveler activities and can add a nice equilibrium to a traveling plan.

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The Distillery Historic District is a terrific place to spend a few hrs if you're in midtown Toronto and also intend to escape the normal midtown destinations. This pedestrian-only village is established among historic structures that comprises one of the most extensive and best-preserved collection of Victorian commercial design. You will not find a franchise or chain procedure here, so all the shops and galleries are among a kind.

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ADDRESS 93 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada PHONE +1 416-392-7219

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ADDRESS: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8, Canada PHONE +1 416-973-4000

The Toronto Harbourfront Centre is a non-profit, cultural company that offers a range of social activities to the general public for free. Found along the coasts of Lake Ontario in midtown Toronto, visitors can stroll the boardwalk on Harbourfront's 10-acre website, kick back in one of the parks or skate in the winter. Inside, absorb a lecture, art exhibition or show, store, or dine.

04 of 11 Home Window Store in Yorkville

This opulent pocket of downtown Toronto includes quaint Victorian architecture that houses loads of restaurants, shops and art galleries. Yorkville dining and purchasing is upscale, and the galleries represent a few of the finest Canadian as well as international artists.

Yorkville includes the exclusive "Mink Mile" buying district, that includes such premium merchants as Burberry, Prada, Gucci, and also Canadian chain store, Holt Renfrew.

Several stars have been spotted strolling the walkways of Yorkville, specifically throughout the Toronto International Film Event (September).

05 of 11 Absorb a Show at Yonge-Dundas Square

ADDRESS: 1 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5B 2R8, Canada PHONE +1 416-979-9960

Yonge-Dundas Square is public room in midtown Toronto-- much akin to Times Square in New York City City-- where you'll usually locate totally free events, such as films, performances, and promos.

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ADDRESS: 201 Winchester St, Toronto, ON M4X 1B8, Canada PHONE +1 416-392-6794

Riverdale Farm is greater than 7 acres of eco-friendly space in midtown Toronto, complete with cows, sheep, goats, pigs, poultries, as well as other accommodating stock. Visitors can meander the premises and also enjoy personnel do their duties for free.

The ranch is specifically charming because it recreates very early 20th century Ontario farm life-- no soda machines or ugly gift store. A couple of homemade rewards are offered for purchase, but all in maintaining with the Riverdale style.

Parking is readily available only on the bordering domestic streets, which comprise a remarkable building mix of Victorian and contemporary residences. There are additionally lots of excellent smaller sized restaurants and restaurants within a kilometer of the farm on Carlton, Broadview as well as Parliament roads.

07 of 11 Go To the Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Collection

ADDRESS: 145 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 4G1, Canada PHONE +1 416-363-6671

Load a brownish bag lunch and attend one of the Canadian Opera Business's free lunch hour performances (from late September to May). Enjoy dancing or a range of musical design concerts in the sunbathed amphitheater of the Four Seasons Centre for the Carrying Out Arts.

The amphitheater provides an unique experience where target market participants have a full sight onto hectic College Avenue via the clear, all-glass facade that melts away the normal sensation of isolation from the outside world in a music hall.

Opera performances at night remain in the R. Fraser Elliott Hall, a traditional European horseshoe-shaped amphitheater developed to be a completely separate and separated framework within the structure, resting on nearly 500 rubber acoustic seclusion pads.

Before or after the performance, look into the surrounding locations of Eaton Centre, Chinatown, and Queen's Park.

08 of 11 Take a Streetcar to the Beaches

The Beaches is an east-end Toronto area that flaunts a long stretch of beachfront. Boil down for the day to hang out at the beach, walk the boardwalk or go to the shops as well as dining establishments on Queen Street East.

To get to The Beaches by mass transit, take one of the city's trams, such as the 501, which heads directly down Queen Road, giving you a cheap scenic tour of among Toronto's most well-known streets. Toronto's tram paths operate in the classic design on road tracks shown to auto website traffic; they are not heritage trams run for tourism or sentimental objectives.

09 of 11 Browse Through Toronto Museums

ADDRESS: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada PHONE +1 416-979-6648

Entry to the Permanent Collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario is free from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Wednesday.

At the Bata Footwear Museum, "pay-what-you-can" admission is held every Thursday night between 5 to 8 p.m. The recommended donation is $5.

The Gallery of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) has Free Friday Nights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the Market Gallery at St. Lawrence Market, which discovers Toronto history as well as society, is constantly complimentary.

10 of 11 Stroll Kensington Market

ADDRESS: 160 Baldwin St, Toronto, ON M5T 3K7, Canada PHONE +1 416-323-1924

Kensington Market is a hip Toronto community adjacent to Chinatown, not a "market" in the common fruits and veggies sense, although you will discover those there in abundance. The area has a funky, "natural, fair-trade cafe" vibe, however not obnoxiously so. You'll discover retro furnishings, vintage clothing shops and also lots of locations to get an inexpensive take-out dish, especially excellent empanadas as well as various other Latin American foods.

11 of 11 Take the Ferry to Centre Island

ADDRESS: Center Island - Olympic Island, Toronto, ON M5V, Canada

Centre Island is a wonderful trip for anyone desiring to leave the stress of the city. Reaching Centre Island calls for a ferryboat flight. Ferryboats leave every 15 to 30 minutes and price in between $4 and $8, as well as cost-free for youngsters under 2 (as of 2019). The journey takes about 10 minutes.

Centre Island is 820 acres of parkland. Aside from the ferry trip, there's no cost, but a small theme park, restaurants, as well as other destinations might entice you to open up your purse. Keep the spending plan in check by bringing an outing lunch or make the most of the fire pits and also bbq.

The article “ Top 11 Cheap or Free Things to Do in Toronto “ was seen originally on Tripsavvy

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theaspiringwanderess · 3 years

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Booking WCT Parks Reservations and Transportation

Return to My WCT Story | Packing: Food/Clothes/Essentials | What to Expect, Fees, Travel Plan + Emergency Contact, Registration Process, Registration Day Key Take-Aways, Transportation Options

Booking A WCT Reservation Through Parks Canada

To book a hike on the West Coast Trail you have to make a reservation through the Parks Canada Reservation website. Parks Canada opens online reservations at the beginning of each year. Normally this opening date is in January, however due to the covid-19 pandemic the trail was closed in 2020 and opened later than usual for reservations on April 30, 2021. This allowed Parks Canada to make important and informed decisions about how to proceed with orientation practices, trail maintenance and ensure that vaccine/infection rates were at acceptable levels to keep safe the at risk indigenous communities who live in the remote areas along the trail.

Also due to covid-19 and increased down time for many people, hiking has become an insanely popular newfound pass time and this has dramatically increased the number of people clamouring for the more elusive bookings. when I logged into the Parks Canada website April 30, 2021, I was greeted with an anticipated [second] round of what I’ve dubbed the ‘Parks Canada Hunger Games’. Luckily because the official grand opening of the Parks website for all other bookings was April 16 (2021), I had a tasted of what to expect. It took almost 8 hours to get through online waiting periods and make my reservation and I actually didn’t get my first pick of dates, but it worked out in the end and frankly I know so many people that didn’t get through so I felt extremely lucky. I expect as things return to normal this will phase out and return to more normal waiting periods, so don’t be deterred.

The online booking process through Parks Canada includes almost all your fees with the possible exception of the water taxi required to cross at Nitinaht Narrows. In my experience both times the Parks Canada website says this fee is not included in the registration process. However, on both occasions once at Nitinaht our party was told the fee was paid. I still recommend bringing the $62.50 fee with you in cash because if for some reason your booking doesn't include the fee there is no other way to cross the narrows and complete the trail.

WCT Fees paid through the online booking process include: *more info can be found here on the Parks Canada website

West Coast Trail Overnight Use Permit (per trip, per person): $130.31

Reservation Fee: (per person): $24.50

Additional ferry fees (if applicable)

Gordon River Ferry: $22.00 (needed to complete the full hike end to end)

Nitinaht Ferry: $2.00 (if you enter or exit at Nitinaht Narrows ie- half the hike)

Fees (*potentially) not included in the online booking process:

National Park Entry Fee (this can be purchased at a daily rate, an annual rate, or you can purchase a Parks Discovery Pass)

Water Taxi Fee (Nitinaht Village – Nitinaht Narrows, one way): $62.50

Travel Plan + Emergency Contact

You will need to have a travel plan prepared in advance in order to make your reservation with Parks Canada. A travel plan includes what day you will start the trail, what day you plan to finish, and how many nights you expect to spend on the trail.

As a precaution, you also are expected to provide this information to an emergency contact of your choosing who will not be hiking with you. This can be a friend, family member, etc. I also personally recommend having a contact plan in place for your departure and return times. This means, text your contact the day you leave BEFORE you lose cell reception and text them the day you arrive back in town as soon as you get back into a reception area. Often times situations occur such as hikers finishing the trail a day early or a day late or they might miss the bus and run a day behind. Be sure to have this discussion with your emergency contact and prepare them for this possibility.

Registration Process

The person making the reservation will need to need to provide their name, address, phone number and email. If you can, I recommend hoping onto the Parks Canada website a few days in advance to create an account (GCKey) so that you just sign in quickly rather than risk delays during the registration. If you have an account already, freshen up on your login and password details and have them ready for the big day!

For each guest you are booking you will need their full first and last legal name and an emergency contact’s name and phone number. This information can also change year to year so it’s a good idea to have your guests on standby for the day incase you need anything else last minute.

Key Booking Process Take-Aways

Give yourself lots of time to make bookings. Set aside the day, be prepared to spend many hours online on the phone on hold.

Have your travel plan and emergency contact information ready (entry point, exit point, how many days you expect to be on the trail for, emergency contact name and number and having had a chat about timelines).

Have the information for each hiker ready in advance. Have each party member send you their info prior to the day and have it ready and waiting. Ask your party members to be on standby incase you need any additional info last minute.

Know your fees in advance. This will help you prepare, especially if you are booking multiple hikers and will avoid any cost shocks.

Have a payment method ready and waiting. Credit Cards are usually the easiest way to go, but if you know what your fees will be you can use pre-paid cards or visa debit as long as you have the appropriate amount of funds available.

Transportation To And From The Trailhead

When I first did the WCT, only 5 years ago, there were far less options and ways to communicate with other parties to make alternative transportation arrangements. This time around I learned about so many other cool options to tell you about!

West Coast Trail Shuttle Bus

Driving

Bus + Driving Combo

Ride Sharing

West Coast Trail Express Bus

My choice of transportation to and from our entry (start) point for most my Vancouver Island hikes thus far has been the West Coast Trail Express Bus. These guys are so amazing and I cant speak highly enough of the service they provide. You must book your fare in advance, online is the easiest way and its best to book parties all together to ensure everyone gets a seat. The rates are varied based on the distance you travel and if you book a round trip fare (there and back at the end of your hike) you receive a 20% discount! For my 2021 WCT trip I originally booked 3 adult fares, Victoria to Gordon River (heading to the trail) and Pacheena Bay to Victoria (leaving the trail) and it cost $143 per person. They also have a pretty fair cancelation policy; cancel more than 10 days in advance and receive a refund minus a $5 admin fee. After 10 days they will charge a 10% fee per day (ex. 9 days notice receives 90% refund return).

The shuttle bus essentially does one big loop, depending on travel length it may offer a restroom stop or sometimes an opportunity, time and route allowing, to grab a quick refreshment. You are travelling on some rough logging roads though and the ride can be at the very least described as bumpy... but with some great scenary! It leaves Victoria once daily at 6:30 am from the Capital City Station and heads up island. They stop along the way at trailheads for the Juan de Fuca as well as the WCT. It usually takes a couple hours to reach the Gordon River WCT trailhead in Port Renfrew. The bus stops directly in front of the information station where you can unload your pack and head inside to register and attend an orientation. In 2021 we saw a lot of construction though and this did cause us delays, arriving at 10:30am (next orientation was then at 11:30). It did give us lots of time though to read the important info, grab a snack and use the luxurious flush toilets one last time!

From Port Renfrew the bus continues northwards to Pacheena Bay, potentially making stops at Nitinaht along the way if they have a registered passenger. It does a round into the small town of Bamfield (roughly around 1:15pm) and then heads to the Pacheena Bay Trailhead Information Station for about 1:45pm. At this time it picks up any passengers heading south back to Gordon River, Port Renfrew or Victoria. If you have finished the trail at Pacheena Bay and are hungry or in need of a shower you can take a taxi from the Info Station to Bamfield and catch the bus there also, just be aware of your timelines. Leaving Pacheena Bay at 1:45pm we were the only passengers going back to Victoria and normally would arrive back in Victoria at 5-6pm but unfortunately with construction again we actually rolled back into town at 8pm (! ... lots of delays and one-way traffic lanes). This is no fault of the bus service, I have to say our driver Jeff was absolutely the best company and filled us in on all the news we’d missed and the ferry creek protests going on at the time. He was AWESOME!

Driving

In case you’re rather particular about buses or maybe you prefer to travel solo, you can indeed drive up to either WCT trailhead / Information Stations. However, if you plan to go this route there are some things you should be aware of.

First, before anything else, it must be said that many of the roads are rough. Like backwoods, gravel, logging road rough, and thus are rough on your vehicle.

Plan your route. Map out in advance the roads you will take, and note where service stations are if you need one, or even if you just need a break and opportunity to stretch those legs!

You might also want to consider staying at a halfway point overnight to breakup the drive. A friend’s house maybe, or, there are some really amazing B&B’s or hotels along the way or in the area. Or you could even plan to camp the night at either end if that’s appealing! Of course rates do apply so consult the Parks Canada website.

There is paid parking at each trailhead / information station. Look up the rates in advance per day and I’d advise even calling ahead to see how much parking they typically have available and if they’ve been busy lately. Space is limited.

If you are driving/parking, what is your plan to get back to your vehicle once you come out the other end of the trail? ... If you’re unsure, consider one of the following combo options! Or, if you are fairly confident about your finish date and that you wont be delayed you could consider having a friend or family member pick you up. If you opt for this, maybe stash a set of clean clothes in the vehicle and consider treating them to lunch for the effort ;)

Bus + Driving Combo

If you have no local friends or family on the island to pick you up (or at least none willing to make the drive!) one option is to leave your vehicle at one of the trailhead lots and book a one way bus shuttle fare back once you finish. For example, if you start at the southern Gordon River entrance, you’d park there and finish at Pacheena Bay where you’d catch the bus back to Gordon River. The trip between the two is only about 3(-ish) hours normally. Though again in 2021 construction made this closer to 4 hours for anyone opting for this. But rather than arrive back in Victoria at 8pm, they probably beat us by a few hours at least! One last thing to consider is that the bus only stops at Pacheena Bay once per day, and if, say, you started from this end and left your vehicle there, the bus will arrive at Gordon River much earlier and only go northwards once. So you’d need to be off the trail and waiting by roughly 10am if you finished at Gordon River. This makes starting at the southern point and finishing at Pacheena much more appealing if you are opting for this combo since the north end is a much faster end hike.

Ride Sharing

Consider that there are tons of people wanting to drive their own cars each year. Why not consider making arrangements to swap vehicles? For this to work you will need someone with a similar (or close to) start/finish date and who is starting at the opposite end from you. You will also need to decide where to meet up with the vehicles (ideally, most likely at Gordon River so only one vehicle is driving furthest northwards). You also will need to feel confident they will care appropriately for your vehicle. Consider some vetting questions like, age, perhaps confirm they have personal vehicle insurance, are they traveling with a family or friends, etc.

How do I find someone who might want to ride share? A great place to start is the super cool WCT Facebook Page! This is not a Parks Canada page, however, it is a very neat place to find others with WCT reservations, swap info, ask questions from recent hikers and more!

Also, since cell reception is very unreliable on the WCT, many who choose this option also make advanced arrangements to meet at a specific campsite on a certain day so they can swap keys. Though, some people choose to hide a key on the vehicle itself. If you are considering hiding the key, keep in mind that while Pacheena Bay is a bit quieter, Port Renfrew is a bustling tourist town in the summer and the parking lot isn’t patrolled.

Return to My WCT Story | Packing: Food/Clothes/Essentials |

#wct #wct packing #west coast trail booking #travelbc #vancouver island #hike #hike2021 #hiking #hikelife

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