In association with Dundee City Council Construction Services and the Unicorn Preservation Society, Aim were invited to develop a reception module to provide supporting facilities for visitors to the ship. In addition to the reception module, the project included the enhancement of the exhibition maritime heritage journey through the ship, including upgrading general and showcase lighting and the highlighting of star objects to enhance the experience of the ship, a cherished piece of Dundee’s maritime heritage.
The reception module is located on the quayside and consists of a shipping container, referencing the nautical theme of the setting, wrapped in charred black oak cladding to blend with the ship’s hull. The module provides a low-cost and suitably functional visitor space to support the ship staff, visitors and events.
Glenrothes Strollers are a significant youth sports development organisation, supporting the needs of over 500 members of all ages and levels of ability. Aim were invited to develop a new clubhouse at Overstenton Park to support the Strollers’ extensive community activities throughout the year.
The brief for the project was developed in close consultation with the numerous user groups associated with and out-with the club. Several plan forms were investigated, the preferred option being a form that sites a flexible café/events space at the core of the building, with the support changing and shower spaces around the outside.
A single softly curved roof line, to reflect the line of a ball travelling through the air, falls gently to the rear to provide a single rain water collection point for storage and watering of the playing fields. The curved roof also provides a south-facing 4 metre canopy sheltering the viewing terrace.
The project delivers a much-needed new facility that assists the Strollers’ offering to the local community.
“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
Aim had been working with their client on a community facility for over ten years, assessing several sites and opportunities for a new community hub. This process led to their preferred location for a new facility at Monifieth Waterfront. Located on the national cycling network and perfectly located to support the waterfront land and water-based sports activities, the pavilion community building offers flexible community group hall space, meeting rooms, changing and WC facilities and supports a café and kitchen.
Elevated one metre above general ground level the Pavilion captures extensive Tay estuary views and provides much needed support space and shelter for the surrounding community and visitors to the waterfront. Constructed primarily of Glulam and CLT panels for rapid assembly the building’s plan is orientated south to overlook the immediate Blue Seaway recreational area and the beach beyond.
The immediate dunes are repurposed to form raised seating areas and a natural amphitheatre for summer events. The building incorporates Corten steel screens externally to lock-down and secure the building after hours.
As part of a competition run by the Highland Housing Association, Aim won the opportunity to build on a prime plot within the site of the Scottish Housing Expo, working closely with Cadell2 to develop this innovative house prototype.
Woodrock is a bold living space of 2 boxes of honest industry, one in timber skin floating above the other in white, resulting in a crisp, modern aesthetic. The energy efficient house is open plan and contains a central void, trapping heat in the thermal mass of a central masonry wall. The common spaces interlock and encourage unity, warmth, and sharing. Spaces open onto the village green side in contrast to the private garden elevation of open and transparent glazing, addressing the building’s role as a fundamental part of the village hierarchy.
The external materials were chosen particularly to minimise future maintenance. Trespa veneer panels and smooth white render combine with high performance triple glazed windows and doors. The combination of a highly insulated external building skin and photovoltaic renewables delivered a house with annual energy cost of circa £300.
Loch Ness Shores is a 5-star VisitScotland accredited camping and leisure development which provides a destination, amenity, and leisure environment in the Scottish Highlands. In developing the proposal, there was a consistent focus on achieving an architectural character which would enhance the Foyers area and provide a key tourist destination on the south shores of the loch.
Several rural compositions were assessed to identify the most appropriate form in terms of scale, mass, rural context, visual impact and access. The eventual proposal developed from this analysis presents a series of ‘long house’ buildings directly associated with low impact architecture and the rural impression common in the Highlands.
A reception, shower block and supporting retail and manager’s accommodation serve to support over one hundred camping and caravanning pitches commanding dramatic views across the loch.
The development uses locally sourced materials and has received significant SRDP funding secured in part due to the unique panel system developed to construct the buildings and the BREEAM excellent benchmark.
Loch Ness Shores has received several architectural and tourism awards and even won best loo!
“Every design task has been met with equal enthusiasm and this has resulted in a project that displays impressive consistency in terms of design quality” - Donald & Lynne Forbes, Directors - Loch Ness Shores
Aim were commissioned to develop Foxlake Adventures’ new water-based activities centre in the Victoria Docks, Dundee. The development included a new reception, changing and storage area, external terracing, jetties, pontoons access gangways, two new wakeboard courses and a water based inflatable wipe-out course.
The buildings are wrapped in a screen of charred black timber arranged as a sinusoidal wave referencing the building’s setting in the water and the historic HMS Unicorn. At the same time, the frontage provides a strong backdrop for the large FOXLAKE logo, creating a bold sense of place and a lasting impression.
Further developments will enhance the water-side of the facility using nautically inspired dazzle camouflage to break up the mass of the buildings and further enhance the striking aesthetic which has already been established.
Dating back to the mid 1800s, and with strong ties to Dundee’s mercantile history, Chesterhill House strikes a formidable figure on its cliff-side site. However, following years of neglect and dereliction, the once proud manor home has fallen into disrepair. It was from here that it was purchased by our client with the ambition of restoring and extending the house to create a high-quality family home.
The largest part of the proposal involves the renovation and restoration of the existing 1870s dwelling house, including the removal of later extensions of negative significance, and the construction of a new extension, drawing on design cues from the existing structures and using a complimentary and contemporary palette of materials. Other proposed works include the construction of a large subterranean garage, gatehouse, and restoration of the historic oval walled garden.
This residential development adopts a cascading form to tackle the gradient of Glenagnes Road. Each twin townhouse overlaps the next with a projecting wing to accommodate the change in level. The roof line follows this dynamic cascade and terminates at a columned projection facing Logie Gardens. Each townhouse has 2 substantial west-facing balconies extending the 1st floor living accommodation and upper bedroom respectively, capturing sunlight throughout the afternoon. The two end units have substantial sheltered terraces providing additional external activity space. All townhouses have the main living accommodation elevated to the 1st floor, providing unobstructed views of Logie Avenue, as well as increased privacy.
The simple material palette combines smooth white render and Iroko timber, with base coursing of blue/grey brick, achieving a warm, modern aesthetic.
Aim were invited to respond to a brief developed by St Andrews Links Trust (SALT) to analyse the present facilities at the Eden Club House, the primary focus being the enhancement of the visitor experience to compliment the high quality of experience offered at seven golf courses owned and managed by the trust.
The proposal includes the upgrade of the existing Eden Clubhouse with a new, refurbished entrance, restaurant, kitchen, meeting and changing spaces and office accommodation all linked via an internal street and offering commanding views over the links starter box.
A new dedicated organisation headquarters building on two storeys sits separately within the Eden Clubhouse grounds providing primary office and meeting spaces as well as a substantial west terrace that overlooks the 18th green.
A modern yet classically proportioned house, this family home was designed to sit on an expansive site on the fringes of Dundee. With an extensive brief, a north-south axis was developed as an ordering device forming a key circulation route through the new home. A generous, modern garage was positioned between the new home and existing dwellings to the east, with the home and pool are orientated south and west to encircle the site and screen the south west gardens.
Several further small buildings: a pond shelter; guest annex and tennis pavilion were also proposed. The new home’s architectural impression is a mix of familiar classical proportions and subtle, modern, and neo-art-deco references. Sections of the building open to form contemporary glazed areas including the glazed spa pavilion annex, central entrance stair with large sky lantern and lade bridge glass walkway spanning an open lade winding through the extensive garden grounds.
