The Recap: A weekly update from Architecture and Design Scotland

The Kelpies on a sunny day with people cycling and walking around the greenspace around it.
Published: 22/07/2024

Welcome to the Recap - a short weekly update blog from Architecture and Design Scotland. This is based on our internal blog that is shared with staff and board members on Fridays. This blog is for the week commencing 15 July.

Filming in Falkirk

This Wednesday, Principal Design Officer Kate Hendry and Communications Officer Rachel McBryde, made the journey to Falkirk to interview Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership for her contribution to the Value of Design campaign. It was great to hear from her about the economic benefits design can bring to a place alongside how it can contribute to creating liveable town centres. 

A bonus to this visit was their tour around Falkirk High Street, the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies. Our colleagues saw different groups of people walking around the High Street, visiting cafes and doing some shopping from toddlers with their parents to the older population.  

They also saw tourists and locals ride the Falkirk Wheel in barges, a definite engineering marvel to see in person. 

People of all ages enjoyed walking and biking along the beautiful blue-green pathways surrounding the Kelpies and the Helix. It was a sight, to see so many people of different ages enjoying the area around them.

More interviews on the value of design

On Thursday, Rachel and Kate continued with the interviews for the Value of Design campaign. It was great to have our Principal Architect, Steve Malone, join the ranks of interviewees sharing his thoughts on the value of design.  

We also had a visit from Mr. Rab Bennetts, Founder of Bennetts Associates, who shared his ideas on the value of design, citing the Edinburgh Futures Institute as an example of how design can have a positive impact on people and places.  

Until next time

Coming up...

New blogs on the value of design and outputs from our most recent Place Forum on preventative design.