THE Saltire Society today announced the shortlisted houses for the 2023 Saltire Housing Design Award.

And Galashiels’ High Sunderland (Architect: Loader Monteith) was listed in the Single Dwelling Award category.

The modernist house built in woodland in the grounds of the 19th-century Sunderland Hall between Galashiels and Selkirk.

It was designed in 1957 by Peter Womersley for textile artist Bernat Klein and his wife Peggy.

A project of national importance, High Sunderland was badly damaged by fire in 2017 and this restoration and development project was an opportunity to accurately restore and enhance the modernist icon.

Supported by the Scottish Government, the Awards celebrate the diversity of the best of new housing in Scotland, recognising the contribution it makes to social and cultural conversations.

Advocating Scottish house building and place making for 85 years, longer than any other design award in Scotland, the Saltire Housing Design Awards work to encourage good, affordable, adaptable and environmentally sustainable housing in Scotland.

The Awards are open to entries from Owners, Clients, Architects, Housebuilders and Housing Developers from across Scotland, and the judging panel seeks projects that add positively to Scotland’s architectural and social landscape.

The winners of the 2023 Scottish Housing Design Awards will be announced in a live ceremony in the autumn.

Sarah Mason, Executive Director of the Saltire Society said “Having returned from a Scotland-wide tour of the shortlisted entries, we were impressed by the range of housing types, revealing great enthusiasm and expertise in practice to make excellent homes.

“All of the architects, designers, and owners of these shortlisted projects should be congratulated for having the vision and innovation to drive forward the improvement of Scottish housing and homes.”

Others shortlisted for the Single Dwelling Award include The Arbor House, Aberdeen. (Architect: Brown & Brown Architects) The Railway House, Newport on Tay. (Architect: ZONE Architects) and Glendale Cottage, Muirmill. (Architect: Ann Nisbet Studio)

The 2023 judging panel is made up of industry experts Helen Lucas, Hunter Kirkpatrick, Teresa Macnally, Susannah Macneill, Suzanne McIntosh, John Shepherd, Liz Simpson, Steven Tolson and Gareth Williams and chaired by author, musician and architect Michael Angus.

Michael Angus said “It has been an honour to be invited to chair the Saltire Housing Award this year.

“Its prestige as an award exemplifying the best in Scottish housing is well founded, and unquestionably evidenced by the quality of the shortlisted entries this year.

“All exhibited exemplary consideration of prescient and traditional concerns: liveability, craft, place making, environmental responsibility and altogether, delight.

“Those shortlisted highlight the best in Scottish housing, rightly being tremendous advocates of what is achievable when ambition, imagination, care and collaboration come together in the pursuit of excellence.”