Scottish culture minister Linda Fabiani has published a new report promoting better design to raise the quality of Scotland’s future built environment.

She dubbed the report, Design at the Heart of House Building - prepared by experts from Herott-Watt and Edinburgh Universities - as an excellent starting point for architects, developers and local authorities to work together to deliver higher quality, design-led, sustainable housing and communities.

Speaking to an architectural and building seminar, ‘Architexture,’ in Glasgow on 15 April, organized by the University of Strathclyde, Ms Fabiani said: “The Scottish Government sees the creation of better-designed, sustainable communities as one of its key ambitions and the private house-building industry has an important role to play in achieving that goal. This research study provides a step forward in our understanding of the house-building industry - in terms of its approach to design, the complexities of the issues it faces and where external advice and support might be beneficial to achieving our joint ambitions.”

u http://www.architexture.info/
Design at the Heart of House Building: u http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/08110758/26
Contact: Architecture Policy Unit, Janet Ruiz, 0131-244-4939 or Bob Foggo 0131-244-7461