Awards
We are delighted to be recognised for the work we are doing. All projects are a collaboration between client, design team and contractor. These awards recognise the success of this.
Project Awards
Best Bespoke Building in the UK. 2014 - Winner. The Passivhaus Trust
Project: Hayshed Farmhouse, Ayrshire
UK Passivhaus Competition 2012 - Winner. The BRE
Commendation for Innovation – The BRE
Project: Passivhaus – Innovation in Practice.
Practice Awards
Vision in Business and the Environment, Scotland
- Best Micro Business in Scotland 2013 – Shortlisted
- Energy Award 2013 – Shortlisted
Our Services
Our projects are varied but share a common theme. The underpinning ethos is a commitment to creating wonderful spaces to spend time and that are warm, low energy and that tread lightly on the environment. This includes:
- New eco homes, community buildings and offices
- ‘Passivhaus’ and ‘enerphit’ standard buildings
- The alteration and extension of existing properties
- Collaborating with artists to develop structures or explore ideas
- Conservation of historic properties
- Building performance research
- Training and development for students and professionals
We can lead you through your project from the initial ideas to the time you move in. Alternatively if you need an architect and/or passivhaus designer to help you with only a part of your project we can help you there too. We provide the following services in house:
- Full architectural design service from project inception to handover
- Eco design
- Low energy and low carbon design
- Passivhaus design
- Passivhaus consultancy to clients and other design professionals
- Options appraisals
- Feasibility studies
- Energy use (PHPP) modelling
- And collaborate with other specialists to provide additional services.
Our Story
The practice was established in 2011 as the realisation of Kirsty’s ambition to follow in the footsteps of 5 previous generations of architects in her family.
Growing up surrounded by tales of design and architecture from living family and family friends along with tales of older generations of architects it was impossible to shake off the childish excitement of an imaginary world – which as architects those apparently magical family members could turn into reality. And so a dream was born out of near to 200 years of architectural experience.
The family has worked primarily in Scotland and London but as far afield as the USA, Australia and Lybia.
John Burnet, Kirsty’s great-great-great uncle (born 1814) started this lineage. His working life started as a carpenter, graduating to architect through experience as a clerk of works. Little did he know how his own ambition would develop through the generations.
His son, John James Burnet – later Sir JJ – followed him although studying in France at the Ecole des Beaux Arts then working in Glasgow and London. You can imagine Kirsty’s awe visiting the British museum for the first time to see some very familiar lions – a model for these gateposts sat in her grandmother’s house guarding her hallway. Similarly, as a junior architect Kirsty was sent to the Edinburgh city vaults to find drawings. This is a rather Alice in Wonderland experience in itself as they are buried floors below the Royal Mile, but she was startled to find Sir John James’ signature sitting alongside her – the family ghosts were watching.
Moving down the family tree, Sir JJ’s niece and Kirsty’s great grandmother was Edith Burnett – better known to family as Edma. The architectural gene was clearly strong in her but approval of her ambitions by the family was not. She studied in secret – telling people she was studying garden design, when in fact it was architecture. Continuing to buck the norms of the time, she was elected the first female member of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland in 1916, but as a woman, she was not allowed to join the RIBA.
She married an architect, T Harold Hughes, and they ran separate practices. She is credited with establishing the first practice run by a woman in Europe. Of their 3 daughters, her youngest, Heather – Kirsty’s great aunt – also married an architect, John Lomax. They ran a practice together, winning the RIBA Gold Medal. Their son Nick and nephew John Campbell then took over the mantle and take us to the present. They both also run successful practices with Nick’s practice’s portfolio including the Stirling Prize winning Brighton Library. And whilst John’s practice is based in the USA one of his Clients is Gore – who manufacture in Dundee. Bringing us neatly to the roots of Kirsty’s practice.
Each of these practices does and has challenged boundaries, being led by creative thinking to push forward the development of a multi faceted approach to good design. It is these boots Kirsty and her colleagues look to fill and to enjoy the inspiration of the past to propel them into the future.
Familiar projects……
Reading room, Glasgow
Library
We love to read, talk, browse and share ideas. Here are some links you may find useful
Our Work
A selection of the publications featuring or about our projects:
Best Practice Guidance: Planning for Sustainable Buildings. Welsh Government
Passivhaus Trust Awards: Hayshed Farmhouse Case Study and Factfile
Online Design Inspiration
Just for a start:
Domus - Architecture and Design
ArchDaily – the world’s most visited architecture site
Creative Dundee – for all things creative in and around the city and their amazing Pecha Kucha nights.
Other Resources
Technical and specialist eco:
'Why Choose Passivhaus?' - by The Passivhaus Trust UK
Passivhaus Institute, Germany - This is where the passivhaus standard originated. With lots of research in all areas available to download, you can browse in German or English. You can also check here to see who has their Certified Passive House qualification.
Passipedia - A wealth of Passivhaus information waiting to be discovered.
The International Passivhaus Association
The Passive House Trust, UK - The Passivhaus Trust is an independent, non-profit organisation that will provide leadership in the UK for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard and methodology. At KMA we are developing the Scottish Passive House Trust regional group, bringing together the leaders in the field in the region.
AECB - The Sustainable Building Association
Scottish Environment Design Association (SEDA)
The Good Homes Alliance - Lots of Research to peruse.
We will keep adding to this to build up a library of information. Please come back for updates.