Scapa Flow Museum commended at Highlands and Islands architecture award

Scapa Flow Museum received a commendation at the recent Highlands and Islands Architectural Association Awards, in the 'New Life for Existing Buildings' category.

In commending the Museum, judges highlighted the “confident and bold container, housing fascinating exhibits”, and the “simple glazed connection between the historically significant Pumphouse building and the new mass” which now houses the modern gallery, retail space and café.

The Museum was put forward for the award by the project’s appointed design team lead, LDN Architects, who worked with the Council from the outset on the project.

The £4.4m redevelopment was completed in July this year. It included restoration of the Grade A listed Pumphouse and creation of a new climate-controlled gallery space to house the Museum’s extensive collection of nationally and internationally significant artefacts related to Scapa Flow’s role as naval nerve centre in the World Wars.

The full award in the same category also went to LDN Architects for another of its projects – the Inverness Creative Academy.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “We’re delighted to have received recognition for the unique way Scapa Flow Museum marries old and new architecturally.

“I send my congratulations to LDN Architects for this commendation for Scapa Flow Museum amongst stiff competition.

“For LDN to have also taken the winner’s spot for another project just confirms the level of expertise we benefitted from at Scapa Flow Museum.

“Their approach to the various challenges of restoring a listed Pumphouse and of pairing that with a modern extension has delivered a facility we can all be proud of and which will protect and promote our unique wartime heritage for years to come.”

Winners were announced on 3 November.

Find out more about the awards on the Highlands and Islands Architectural Association website.

Scapa Flow Museum is run by Orkney Islands Council and charts Orkney’s military involvement in the First and Second World Wars. It provides a safe home for a major collection of wartime artefacts, many of national and international importance.

Its recent refurbishment project valued at of £4.4 million, comprising an extension to the Museum and refurbishment of the historic pumphouse, has been supported by Orkney Islands Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 programme, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Museums Galleries Scotland and the Scottish Government’s European Regional Development Fund programme, managed by NatureScot through the Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund. (The Natural & Cultural Heritage Fund is part of the Scottish Government’s European Regional Development Fund programme, which finishes in 2023. NatureScot is also managing another element of the programme – the Green Infrastructure Fund. The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund and the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit the Scottish Government website or follow @scotgovESIF.)

To find out more, visit www.orkney.gov.uk/scapaflow