Welcome to Architecture and Design Scotland

Staff dining interior at Parkhead Hub with minimalistic furniture, bright lighting, and people blurred in motion by the windows.

Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) is Scotland’s national champion for the design of the built environment. As a public body, we support those who plan, fund, and use Scotland’s buildings and places. Our team draws experience and insights from a range of backgrounds and professions, providing advice, producing resources, and sharing learning to transform places through design.

About us

Designing to improve lives

At Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS), we believe that design has the potential to make Scotland’s places work better for everyone by providing inspiration, supporting needs, and resolving complex issues.

We are here to ensure design plays that unique role, by working across multiple Scottish sectors, including learning, healthcare, climate and housing.

Learn more about what we do by visiting our 'How we help' page. You can also explore our 'Resource library' for useful publications and toolkits, find best practice examples in our 'Case studies library', and stay up to date with articles on our 'Blogs hub'.

Illustration of a reception at an additional support learning centre

Illustration by Andrew Wyness

Latest resource

Designing for inclusive and accessible learning environments

Inspired by our work at Craighalbert Centre, the Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairments, we have developed a suite of digital resources which explore how design can help to create safe, accessible, and nurturing spaces for every pupil, regardless of their needs. Explore animated videos, user experience scenarios, spatial ideas, and key principles to understand how design can positively impact learning for children with or without Additional Support Needs (ASN).

View now

Browse our case studies

Explore a wealth of examples and projects from across Scotland and beyond, covering everything from healthcare facilities and learning environments to housing and town centres.

A boy standing at the entrance of the Skye Mobile Micro Home. The exterior walls are black metal cladding.

Using offsite construction for housing delivery in Scotland

View case study

A photograph of the entrance to Dumfries and Galloway hospital - the roof line is made of triangular shapes, and the building is made of light coloured stone.

Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

View case study

A group of students sit and walk on a wide stair case inside a building

In-between spaces in further education

View case study

View all case studies

Edinburgh Futures Institute (Image credit: Bennetts Associates)

Edinburgh Futures Institute (Image credited to Bennetts Associates)

Responding to change

In June 2025, the Scottish Government published a summary of its 2024 review into architecture policy delivery in Scotland, alongside a series of recommendations. This marks the start of a new chapter for Architecture and Design Scotland. The recommendations set out a remit for us to refocus our work on architecture and design, positioning the organisation as a centre for excellence that supports sector-wide development through collaboration, insight, and innovation.

Read the latest update here