Judges bowled over by club

Jun 17 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

CURRENTLY riding high on the playing front, Stirling County Cricket Club picked up an off-the-field honour last week – for its clubhouse.

Judges in Stirling Civic Trust’s biennial architectural competition selected the club’s pavilion, opened in 2007 and designed by JM Architects, for the top award.

The building overlooks the New Williamfield ground with views stretching to the Wallace Monument and the Ochils, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle and Cambuskenneth Abbey.

Assessors said: “The design of the building, with its distinctive roof form and confident handling of the elevations, is most successful. Views of and from clubroom and verandah are delightful. This is a gift of a site and a gift of a project but those involved have risen to the challenge.”

The award scheme is held every other year and alternates between awards for the conservation and adaptation of old buildings and the construction of new ones. Entries for this year were for new buildings completed since 2005.

There were eight entries and judges’ chairman William Cadell said that most of them were of “a commendably high standard”.

JM Architects also collected two “highly commended” awards for the new Dunblane High School and Raploch Community Campus.

Other entries were: Arnbeg, Kippen; Struan House, Somers Lane, Blairdrummond; the Chalmers Suite, Bridge of Allan Parish Church; Kilmun Cottage, Pendreich Road, Bridge of Allan; 34 Snowdon Place, Stirling.