Scotland is home to many beautiful structures — from quaint houses and castles to museums, bridges and cultural centers — so it was notable when, in late December 2025, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland announced the winner of the annual Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award in the coastal city of Aberdeen.
© Jim Stephenson
The surprise was that the award went to Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens, a Victorian garden opened to the public in 1879 that had fallen into neglect for many years. It was the first time since the award began in 2002 that a garden claimed the top prize. The RIAS prize, named for Scottish architect Andrew Doolan who passed away in 2004, recognizes architectural excellence across all building types; the 2025 shortlist was praised for its diversity.
In 2010 the Aberdeen City Council endorsed a project to transform the historic Union Terrace Gardens into a vibrant civic and cultural green space. Glasgow-based Stallan-Brand Architecture and LDA Design were commissioned to regenerate the 2.5-acre site, a programme that ultimately cost about $37 million and led to the 2025 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.
© Andrew Lee
On the surface, restoring an old park might seem modest compared with new building projects, but the design teams delivered substantial interventions that improved access, safety and usability. The masterplan enhanced wheelchair access throughout the gardens, created a safer play area for children, restored historic statues and introduced lift access from Union Terrace into the gardens via a new entrance building adjacent to the existing Burns monument. New pavilions were added to house a restaurant, wine bar and café, helping to activate the space day and night.
© Jim Stephenson
Part of the project involved sensitively restoring the site’s Victorian-era conveniences. The original Union Terrace toilets, built in 1892, were refurbished and repurposed for private events, drinks and brunches under the name Wild Goose at Union Terrace, while new public amenities replaced the older facilities to meet modern standards.
Landscaping formed a major portion of the regeneration. Mature trees were introduced, including sessile oaks, hop hornbeams and red maples, alongside new horizon elms selected for resistance to Dutch elm disease. Planting work included 122,000 new plants, 78,000 bulbs and roughly 2,000 feet of hedging, all of which contribute to biodiversity and a fuller, more resilient urban canopy.
© Andrew Lee
The design teams focused on creating a people-centered public realm that is safer and more accessible for residents and visitors. By reconnecting the gardens with the city, restoring heritage features and adding practical amenities, the project has reinvigorated Union Terrace Gardens as a welcoming cultural and civic destination for Aberdeen.