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.
Aim Design worked alongside Dundee Science Centre to develop a new, Stage I, visitor experience concept focusing on young people and families with accessibility and community integration at the heart of the design brief.
The Connect project, located at the ground floor of Dundee Science Centre, strives to enhance and reinforce the centre as a vibrant, inspiring community hub at the heart of Tayside & Fife. The goal is integrating science into local culture, building on community science capacity in the local region and championing change within the wider informal learning sector.
The primary areas of design development focused on the transformation of the centre into a fully immersive, inspiring and accessible science learning environment. The development of the learning outcomes were driven by and developed in collaboration with regional community groups. The space includes an under-7 zone; sensory room; design it, make it, test it workshop; interactive walls and science presentation spaces. The interactives are intentionally low-tech, mainly object-based to encourage group participation and minimise barriers between the various user groups. Interactives include wall puzzles and tests; science booth interactives; sensory water experiments and mechanical and kinetic challenges.
A large prism void space is repurposed as a multi-use science activity area hosting cafe science events including small booth-based events and large gatherings/group events. The entire prism includes a kinetic kaleidoscope feature suspended throughout the prism void changing in reaction to the temperature and light within the space.
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
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
In association with Dundee City Council Construction Services and the Unicorn Preservation Society, Aim were invited to develop a feature strategy including upgraded general and showcase lighting proposal to enhance a cherished piece of Dundee’s maritime heritage.
Funding was limited and it was agreed to target the main structural elements of the ship, themed room and craftsman’s marks throughout the lower decks. A non-invasive power & lighting design was developed that was discreet and respectful of the category ‘A’ listed ship interior.
The majority of the internal works comprise a series of strategically placed lighting features, highlighting previously largely hidden features as well reinforcing and enhancing the drama of the interior exhibits and nautical architecture.
A new dedicated reception module has been created on the quayside. Designed around and inside a shipping container, referencing the nautical theme of the setting, the module provides a low-cost and suitably functional visitor space to support the ship. The Unicorn Preservation Trust is branded throughout.
“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 were commissioned by Dundee Heritage Trust to upgrade Discovery Point’s existing award-winning exhibition introduction and education spaces on the ground floor, whilst concurrently refurbishing their function spaces on the first floor.
In close cooperation with the team at Discovery Point, and on a limited budget, a series of points for strategic interventions within the existing exhibition were identified. The redesign included a new introduction experience that included a leader movie; creation of an education zone and dress-up station as well as replacing a number of the more dated exhibits with exciting new features which effectively complement and enhance the existing exhibition.
Aim designed and coordinated construction, interior and graphic design, creative direction of AV, display of star objects and continued on-site management throughout the works to completion.
The project was recognised at the DIA awards, winning the Best Interior Design award.
