UNION Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen has been crowned the winner of the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
Designed by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design and LDA Design, Union Terrace Gardens is a public space in Aberdeen city centre, close to several cultural institutions including Aberdeen Art Gallery, His Majesty’s Theatre and Aberdeen Central Library.
Following years of neglect, the project has revived the gardens, introduced new architectural interventions, and restored historic features to create a ‘safe, people-centred and accessible’ public realm.
Three lantern-like pavilions – reminiscent of the city’s historic trams – guide visitors through the landscape and support a range of uses including a new café, restaurant and wine bar. Alongside this, an emphasis was placed on conservation by restoring the historic statues, railings, arcade arches and Victorian toilets.
The new additions sit in harmony with the project’s hard and soft landscaping and engineering work, which include lush planting, flexible event space, play areas, and an aerial walkway route.
Almost 150 years since Union Terrace Gardens first opened to the public in 1879, the £28.3 million refurbishment project has gifted them back to the city and its people to enjoy for many more years to come.
Architect Mary Duggan (founder, Mary Duggan Architects) chaired the RIAS Doolan Award jury. She said, “Union Terrace Gardens draws people in without intimidation: an open invitation that promotes a sense of community through a genuine public offering, and delivering precisely the opposite of what the space had become through years of neglect.
“Beyond its architectural and horticultural precision, the project is a demonstration of civic governance, endurance and responsibility. This ten-year investment by Aberdeen City Council embodies a form of public trust and collective patience that is rarely seen in contemporary procurement, while also delivering an exemplar quality, with a deeper attitude towards sustainability and democracy.”
The 2025 shortlist for the RIAS Doolan Award was described as one of the most diverse in the award’s history. Shortlisted projects included a new road bridge in the Cairngorms, new facilities for the University of Edinburgh, and a restored historic tower house in the Highlands.
Reflecting on the project ahead of the jury’s decision, Paul Stallan (design director, Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design) said, “Union Terrace Gardens isn’t just a park or some pavilions: it is the beating civic heart of Aberdeen. We are incredibly proud that the gardens and all the facilities we’ve provided are being embraced and used by Aberdonians in joyful and innovative ways.
“It is urban regeneration at its best and is demonstrably countering the pernicious decline of town centres that has plagued cities and towns across the country. This proves that with the right investment, ambition and political will, we can turn this urban malaise around.”
RIAS president Karen Anderson PRIAS commented, “Union Terrace Gardens is an outstanding winner of this year’s RIAS Doolan Award, and demonstrates perfectly how architecture can enrich the lives of everyone who encounters it. I’m delighted that Union Terrace Gardens is the first public realm project to be recognised in this way. The collaboration between Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design and LDA Design brings together contemporary architecture, heritage conservation and landscape design, and the huge popularity of the gardens today is a testament to their vision, skills and teamwork.”
