RIAS Emerging Architect of the Year

Wonderful news last night for Emma Fairhurst who won RIAS Emerging Architect of the Year 2019.

Emma Fairhurst is a hugely talented architect and collaborator. She joined Collective Architecture in 2015 after several successful years working with the team at Malcolm Fraser Architects in Edinburgh. Throughout her career, she has applied her skills towards a number of highly complex, social and cultural buildings achieving award-winning results.

Emma has the rare ability to balance exceptional design talent with the integrity and skill required to reassure and navigate clients, consultants and stakeholders through the delivery of exceptionally high-quality projects.

Emma is the architect for the newly completed, highly acclaimed City Observatory on Calton Hill in Edinburgh for the Collective Gallery (featured in the Guardian).

In parallel with her work on Calton Hill, Emma has also delivered new studios for the University of Edinburgh, won the limited design competition for Broughty Ferry Library and guided younger architects through challenging sites and projects such as Leith Fort for Port of Leith Housing and the City of Edinburgh Council. Her work at Malcolm Fraser Architects includes prestigious projects such as Linlithgow Burgh Halls, The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation and Arcadia Nursery.

Emma has proven to be calm, quietly-confident leader/mentor encouraging all members of staff to realise their full potential. Her sensitive, elegant and beautifully crafted designs stand out due to their contemporary interpretation of context, materiality and detail.