Kinloch Lodge named winner in the 2025 RIAS Awards

It’s a privilege to see Kinloch Lodge recognised among the eleven winners in the 2025 RIAS Awards—an honour that celebrates the value of heritage-led design in shaping Scotland’s architectural future. Judges said:

“Kinloch Lodge is an exceptional example of a ‘light-touch’ conservation project. To maintain the charming and idiosyncratic nature of the original mid-19th century lodge and its clutch of later extensions and outbuildings, each of these has been lovingly, painstakingly and respectfully restored (…) GRAS used traditional methods and materials to gently coaxing the buildings back into life over many years, thereby avoiding hastily made decisions. The end result is a project where the changes made are seamlessly integrated in such a way that the architects’ involvement is refreshingly understated and thoroughly respectful of the original buildings. The judges noted how the architects’ philosophical approach is rarely practised and is a tribute to their experience and humility.”

The project reflects a quiet but determined effort to reawaken a Sutherland sporting lodge, guided by a deep belief in the cultural, environmental and emotional significance of stewardship. This award affirms the importance of a conservation-led approach and the collective commitment—across disciplines and generations—to preserving and reimagining Scotland’s natural and built legacy.

Our heartfelt thanks to the RIAS for championing heritage within the wider architectural discourse, and to our client, Wildland, for their trust in the slow, thoughtful process of repair, reinvention and renewal. Warm congratulations to all fellow winners and finalists for their inspiring contributions to Scotland’s evolving built environment.

Explore the full story of Kinloch Lodge here.

Project Team
Architects: Nicholas Groves-Raines, Kristín Hannesdóttir, Zoë Alston, Leo Evangelos Berger
Client: Wildland
Main Contractor: O’Brien Construction Ltd.
Quantity Surveyors: Morham & Brotchie
M&E Engineers: CDMM
Structural Engineers: NARRO
Landscape: Richard Preston Garden Design
Photography: Fran Mart