Discovery Point’s new visitor attraction provides never before seen views of Dundee’s skyline. The project included the creation of a refurbished entrance area, reception and new Dome Gallery Experience.
On reaching the Dome Gallery, visitors are introduced to the space via an experience that starts with the ‘Gaia’ rotating Earth art installation by Luke Jerram, progressing into historic CGI construction of how Dundee appeared in 1901, via a 360° panoramic movie which concludes with a reveal of how the city appears today.
Discovery Point’s Dome was not originally designed as an accessible area of the building. Aim resolved substantial technical challenges to create a new access core and unique Dome Gallery viewing platform enabling visitors to access the dome for the first time. Aim’s Exhibition Design services also delivered the interpretation and creative direction for the 1901 heritage movie and graphics. Visitors can now enjoy unprecedented 360° views across the Dundee skyline and River Tay estuary.
The overall experience invites the visitor to consider the impact our cities and lifestyles impose on the planet. The narrative reflects on the sources of pollution typical of cities at the turn of the 20th century, the lessons we have learnt and why science and exploration are key to developing solutions to combat climate change from those early years and as we continue to demand more from our planet.
The project was awarded Gold for interior design at the 2022 Scottish Design Awards.
Perched on the south bank of the River Tay, this contemporary villa provides a new family home for a growing family and commands dramatic views across the Tay Estuary, Invergowrie Bay and onwards over the Sidlaw Hills. The warm yet minimal design bookends a traditional Victorian street lined with semi-detached sandstone villas.
The concept design focused on two significant principles. The design should capture the setting summer sun and provide contrasting open views from all spaces of the river Tay estuary to the north west and mature woodland garden to the south.
Aim’s principal design philosophy was to encourage a seamless interaction of internal and external spaces at every opportunity. To enable spaces to physically spill out into the garden and river, as well as garden spaces to become part of living areas.
The open plan nature of the living levels has been created to meet the needs of a family with teenage demands and a village social life. Kitchen, living, dining and snug spaces overlap and remain independent via half and full height dividing walls. A working studio is situated on the top floor capturing ever-changing views over the Invergowrie Bay and the bedroom, guest attic and entertainment spaces on the upper levels have increased privacy.
As an initial stepping stone to realising a larger creative media district development, Scottish Enterprise commissioned Aim to design proposals for an office space aimed at start-ups in the digital media sector. The building was constructed from recycled shipping containers in line with the modular construction ethos developed for District 10.
A BREEAM excellent standard building, District 10 provides 15 flexible workspace units each formed from two combined shipping containers. Common amenities and a break out cafe and meeting spaces support the workspaces.
The brand name and industrial design conveys cargo, transport or modular construction likened to a crating stamp. Externally, the building’s brand aesthetic origins link to the 1990s game Tetris. Each elevation is a game screen with pixelated shapes. This pixelation is carried through internally and on all branding and marketing material.
The spaces within the building have been designed to retain the industrial aesthetic of the containers, whilst creating a vibrant space that is comfortable and practical for users. Bold pixelated colour and pattern are used in communal areas to create a strong visual identity and unmistakable character for the building throughout.
“Aim’s industrial aesthetic has been applied to the building in its entirety creating an innovative and inspiring interior befitting of its past and present use.” - Isla Robb - Scottish Enterprise
District 10 Testimonial 2
“Aim have created a visually striking building that will be the cornerstone for future modular development in this significant part of Dundee’s Waterfront development.’’ - Peter Noad - Scottish Enterprise
This modern residence situated at West Meadows outside the Perthshire village of Longforgan has been designed to afford its owners optimum views of its picturesque setting. With a mature forest backdrop and extensive views of the Tay valley, a glass topped walkway connects the two upper wings of the house and spills light into the centre of the house via a large roof lantern. Its form, which echoes the simple shapes of the Scottish vernacular, creates a minimalist aesthetic that is punctuated by large areas of glazing. Low maintenance white render and high performance anodised silver glazing combined with cement tile cladding complete the external skin of the house to ensure maintenance requirements are minimised.
Throughout the inside of the house, sightlines are developed that offer glimpses across the spaces and into the garden beyond. The ground floor kitchen, dining area and lounge revolve around a dark brick hearth fireplace that forms the hub of the living spaces. A palette of white render and glass combined with warm natural hardwoods and ceramic creates a contemporary yet homely interior.
“The simplicity of the design has created an open, modern, and warm house with commanding views of the Tay Valley - a simply lovely house to live in” - Shirley and Dave Wallace
Working with Malmaison, Aim Design introduced two prominent obstacles to redirect pedestrians away from the external seating area. These sit adjacent to the access doors and provide definition to the entrance space whilst appearing soft with curved Corten steelwork to complement an existing canopy design.
The wraparound steel also includes concealed led light washes that will up light the planting bay and down light the bottom fringe of the drum.
The Hawkhill tower is located on the west perimeter of Dundee’s Cultural Quarter. A single storey restaurant was demolished to make way for the first single-access core multi-storey tower in Dundee. The nine storey tower provides commercial space on the lower ground and ground floor that accommodates a restaurant business. The restaurant commands the corner of Session Street & Hawkhill and is a very popular eatery.
The site footprint was extremely tight and a design of compact flats around a single access and lift core maximised the residential potential available. The upper 7 storeys accommodate 21 two bedroom flats each with open plan living kitchen space and dedicated balconies. This living accommodation enjoys panoramic views of the city and the Tay Estuary beyond.
Located on a very tight corner site the building is finished in Trespa cladding and render. Zinc wraps around and over the corner of the building and continues down into the inside of the restaurant below.
A building of significant character this provides a suitable gateway to the access into the Cultural Quarter providing popular and high quality residential accommodation in the heart of Dundee.
“Aim presented a thoroughly well considered case for developing this multi storey development with single means of escape - the first of its kind in Dundee." - Private Client
Set within the beautiful and historic East Shore harbour area of Anstruther, East Neuk Dental Practice suffered from a lack of space and light, a consequence of its history as a typical Scottish fishing village home. By extending the existing building to the rear the design maximises the available area to make careful use of the tight courtyard, creating a bright welcoming space within a dense urban fabric.
Sensitive references to the heritage of the surrounding buildings’ vernacular – in particular the neighbouring Fisheries Museum – are achieved both through the use of warm timbers, and by the careful integration with the existing site geometries. At the same time, complimentary modern elements have been introduced in the form of frameless glazing and steel, effectively realising a comfortable and inviting environment for patrons.
The project was recognised at the DIA awards, winning the Best Small Project award.
CWI specialise in high quality interior fittings, fixtures and design. This new showroom showcases their expertise as well as their developing interest in sustainable technologies. The design of the showroom is centred around providing a low-cost building that is energy efficient, environmentally friendly and with an appearance that represents quality and forward thinking. Simple zinc cladding and boldly expressed structural elements give the building a modern, sculptural quality, with large expanses of glazing making a densely packed space feel light and open.
The building was designed to Passive House standard, with a high specification of materials, heating, and ventilation systems used in its construction which combined with carefully considered detailing, ensured an exceptionally energy-efficient building.
The site of a former laundry works, Home Street mixed development has been designed to provide mixed tenure residential property and varying sizes of commercial small-business units to support local industry requirements and to attract further inward investment & employment. A range of detached, semi-detached and flatted block homes provide low-cost affordable residential opportunities for the community of Aberfeldy. The original Parkfield house is retained for refurbishment as well as two existing commercial units to the west.
Designing around flood plain, access and acoustic obstacles, the redevelopment offers the opportunity to support and reinforce the business hub space recently established in the town. The high quality of the proposal promises to deliver a greatly improved contribution to the character, environment, and general amenity of the surrounding area.
This four bedroom house is located in the middle of the Carbeth Estate overlooking the dramatic Scottish Campsie Fells. The building focuses on the hills and the interior spaces were to be modern with a hint of rustic charm. The prominence of the site and its rural location presented sensitivities relating to planning regulations which required careful consideration early in the design process. The developed proposal has strong links to the local vernacular, creating a simple form which has been orientated to take advantage of its location. The large glazed gable end captures a dramatic view of the Campsie Hills. Scottish larch timber cladding provides the building with natural warmth that helps to blend with the hues of the fells surrounding it, making this a sensitive and successful addition to the area’s built landscape.
Simple material choices of ash, western red cedar, oak and polished resin cement are enriched with vibrant tile choices in warm greens and reds. The master bedroom has a large glass window capturing the view of the fells beyond and overlooking the open plan kitchen and living spaces below. A mix of suspended pendants, rustic rugs, memory wall pictures and reclaimed furniture combine with the simple internal finishes to complete this warm and eclectic family home.
“You feel like you are working with people who care as much about your house as their own” - Helen and Mick McTernan
