The role that we play
As Scotland’s design champion, we use our expertise and networks to promote the value of good architecture and design in providing people-centred, climate-conscious advice on buildings, spaces and places in Scotland.
Image credit: Brian Hartley
About Architecture and Design Scotland
We were set up in 2005 by the Scottish Government as an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). We provide leadership on how Scotland’s places are designed, planned, delivered and sustained.
We will promote people-centred, climate-conscious design and work with our partners to achieve net zero, address inequality, create opportunity, and inform innovation in the way wider public services are delivered.
We will continue to use our architecture and design expertise to support partnerships which use a whole-place, collaborative approach and create an accessible knowledge base for our stakeholders. We will show what design-led, place-based collaboration means in practice, outline the benefits it brings, give examples of how it can be done and work with our partners to remove the barriers that stop it from happening.
Our plans and strategies
Discover how we plan to transform the way Scotland’s places are designed, adapted and sustained in our Corporate Strategy 2021-31.
Image credit: GoWell
Our values
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Generous: we are generous with our time, ideas and experience
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Open: we are open and approachable
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Accountable: we keep the promises that we make and do our work with integrity
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Inquisitive: we are curious and seek creative solutions
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Supportive: we support people and organisations to be their best
Our people
People make places. And all the people at Architecture and Design Scotland know that. Our team draws experience and insights from a range of backgrounds and professions. We all believe passionately in the ability of good design to transform places. That is what unites us. We are here to enhance lives and make communities better, by using design and design thinking.
Find out more about our board, our team and our volunteer panel of experts.
Image credit: Architecture and Design Scotland
How we can help you
Collaboration is everything. We work together with community groups, architects, local authorities and all the key stakeholders to ensure the places we make are the best they can be.
Image credit: Alan Devlin, Crichton Trust
A place for inspiration
Read more about 20-minute neighbourhoods in the context of Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework.
From low carbon design to culture-led regeneration, ‘Creating Places’ is the Scottish Government’s policy statement on architecture and design.
The partners behind the Place Standard tool have developed a site devoted to promoting the benefits of place and place-based working. Learn more on the Our Place website.
The Scottish Government has set out a vision for housing in Scotland to 2040 and a route map to get there in its Housing to 2040 programme.
Header image credit: Miss Lydia Photography