Wednesday, 19 March 2025
14.00-15.00 BST – Zoom Webinar (Register via Eventbrite here)
Reactivating a Roofless Ruin
John Robson
This masterclass is jointly offered by the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies and the Architectural Design 2: Any Place course at ESALA.
John Robson will be discussing the work by GRAS at Preston Tower, Doocot & Garden from his perspective within the wider project team.
The project site is a Scheduled Monument consisting of a late 15th century ruinous Tower House, a 17th century Doocot sited within a walled garden. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland but has been managed by East Lothian Council since 1972. Situated in a coastal town of Prestonpans which had faced a lack of investment over several decades.
A sensitive approach was important to maintain the character of the site and the proposals were distilled to concise architectural moves to make sense of the existing gardens and open up and improve the flow of the visitor experience, whilst protecting the future of the built fabric and landscape. Budget constraints and a conservation approach necessitated a very careful prioritising of works, including considerations towards maintenance.
Involvement of the local community was maintained throughout the project, and a breadth of activities was carried out to capture as broad an input as possible. This reactivation for community use is reflected in the recent accolades the project has received.
2025 Civic Trust Awards: AABC Conservation Awards – Regional Finalist
2024 EAA Building of the Year – Winner
2024 EAA Conservation & Heritage Award – Winner
2024 198th Royal Scottish Academy Architecture Prize – Winner
John Robson
John Robson is an Architect at GRAS and is alumni of the MSc in Architectural Conservation course at SCCS. His key area of expertise is in overseeing and managing the conservation and adaptive reuse of numerous traditional and listed buildings in Scotland. This has given him a broad experience towards his application towards conservation accredited architect status. He was part of the GRAS project team responsible for the recent works to conserve the Scheduled Monument of Preston Tower & Doocot in East Lothian. John is also a Guardian at SPAB Scotland.
GRAS
GRAS was formed in 2020 in the combining of two family-run practices. As Groves-Raines Architects, Nicholas Groves-Raines and Kristin Hannesdottir have spent over four decades restoring and adapting some of Scotland’s most significant Listed and Scheduled buildings. In tandem Gunnar, their son, set up Groves-Raines Architects Studio, focusing on the development of contemporary design solutions, ranging in typology and scale from handheld objects to urban planning. GRAS combines both skillsets, using conservation as a methodology applicable to all forms of contemporary design and construction. The work is focused on the future of heritage, which has become critical considering the climate crisis.
