Oban to host prestigious festival

OBAN’s Festival of Architecture opens this weekend when the Rockfield Centre hosts the Scottish premiere of the Prospect North exhibition, after its first show at the Venice Biennale.

Residents and visitors are invited to ‘ Say Hello to Architecture’ with two more exhibitions called Best of the Best and Scotstyle, as part of Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and the Festival of Architecture.

There is also a fringe programme of architectural talks and workshops, a heritage trail looking at the stories behind significant buildings in Oban and a display featuring ideas for the redevelopment of the Rockfield Centre and its site.

The festival will be officially launched by Fiona Hyslop MSP, Culture Secretary, at a preview tomorrow (Friday), before opening to the public on Saturday.

The Prospect North exhibition features the stories of 15 communities across Scotland who used design and architecture to make a difference. The display uses a sculptural map of Scotland paired with cutting edge ‘augmented reality’ to bring the stories to life.

Karen Anderson, chairwoman of Architecture and Design Scotland, explained: ‘Scotland has an important story to tell of how, over recent years, communities have worked with architects and others to improve their rural and urban areas. In May and June this year, Lateral North – with Dualchas Architects and Soluis – brought individual Scottish community stories and examples of successful projects to Venice to provide inspiration for the countries represented at La Biennale Architettura 2016. We are now delighted to be able to bring these stories to the inspiring Rockfield Centre in Oban for the exhibition’s Scottish premiere.’

Alison Chadwick, a director of Oban Communities Trust which runs the Rockfield Centre, added: ‘It’s very prestigious for the Rockfield Centre. The exhibition has never been this far north.

‘It’s also exciting because this is the first time we’ve used an old part of the school for an exhibition.’

The exhibitions run at the Rockfield Centre until August 7, while Prospect North runs until August 21, open daily from 1pm to 6pm except Tuesdays. For information or bookings, visit the Oban Communities Trust Facebook page or website www. obancommunitiestrust.org.uk.