Our Mission
What
SpACE is the Space for Architecture, Carbon and Environment. Launched in 2021, it started with a pop-up public exhibition and events venue in Edinburgh that addressed the biggest issue of our time - the climate emergency - and how the built environment affects it. SpACE is for everyone involved with buildings and places, from the general public to professionals, planners, developers, contractors, heritage groups, students and many others. The pop-up SpACE is now closed but further events are anticipated in 2022.
When
The opening of SpACE in Edinburgh was on 1st November 2021 to coincide with the huge interest being generated by COP26 in Glasgow. SpACE carried on for three weeks after COP26 was over until 4th December. The pop-up exhibition and events venue was a testbed for the future and studies are underway to see where and when it can reappear in future.
Where
The pop-up SpACE was located at the old Fire Station on Lauriston Place, next to Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh EH3 9DF. Until a new venue is found, the website will be the vehicle for updates.
Who
SpACE is a Scottish Registered Charity run by volunteers and funded by a broad group of public and private sector organisations and individuals. A full list of credits is shown below.
The Exhibition
SpACE was open to the public 11am – 6pm every day, from 1st November to 4th December 2021.
The exhibition is still available on this website and is in two major parts. The first section describes the changing climate and the need to greatly reduce our carbon-dioxide emissions from buildings, construction and some aspects of our lifestyles. The second part looks in detail at case-studies of typical Edinburgh buildings, so that visitors can see how their homes, offices and public buildings can be improved to provide a cleaner, healthier, low carbon future. The emphasis is on existing buildings, as these represent the vast majority of carbon emissions, but the case studies also examine new buildings that cater for Edinburgh’s expansion.
Links to additional information will be added as it becomes available.
To view the exhibition separately click here
We want your feedback about the 'Virtual Engage' and Events, here
Sponsors
Events
Throughout the five weeks SpACE is open, a range of public and private events added to the content of the exhibition through workshops, debates, seminars and networking. Community organisations, designers, contractors, planners, advisory bodies, heritage groups and schools were among those who used SpACE to increase their understanding of the built environment and the importance of thorough analysis, good design and construction. All events were free to attend and all but two were open to the public, bookable through Eventbrite. The venue accommodated up to 80 people seated and some events were also linked to Zoom.
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has also been running a parallel series of events on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council during COP26. Its website is www.netzeroedinburgh.org
To see the scope of exhibitions that were held at the pop-up SpACE, see the list below.
Credits
Contributors and authors
Ann-Marie Fallon (Architype)
Steven Brown (Arup)
Graeme Gidney (Arup)
Ben Hopkins (Bennetts Associates)
Rab Bennetts (Bennetts Associates)
Chris Murray (CCG Group)
Elizabeth McCarroll (City of Edinburgh Council)
Graham Connor (Cooper Cromar)
Fiona Rankin (Edinburgh World Heritage Trust)
Yann Grandgirard (Edinburgh World Heritage Trust)
Jamie Brogan (Edinburgh Climate Change Institute)
Joanne McClelland (GLM)
Aythan Lewis (GLM)
Roger Curtis (Historic Environment Scotland)
Neil Brady-Campbell (Michael Laird Architects)
Chris Milan (Parabola)
Ewan Anderson (7N Architects)
Funders and ‘in-kind’ donors
Architecture & Design Scotland
Arup
Bennetts Associates, Architects
Creative Scotland (Open Lottery Fund)
City of Edinburgh Council, COP26 programme
Cundall, Engineers
Edinburgh Architectural Association
Fiona Rankin
GLM, Surveyors, Architects and Project Managers
Historic Environment Scotland
Lendlease
Oberlanders, Architects
Rab and Denise Bennetts
Reiach & Hall, Architects
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
Scottish Government
Sir Robert McAlpine
University of Edinburgh
7N Architects
Design and implementation
Rab Bennetts (Curation)
7N Architects (Exhibition Design)
Submarine (Graphic Design)
Eva Coutts (Copywriter)
TB&A (Services and lighting)
Sir Robert McAlpine (Builder’s work)
Lendlease (Project management support)
University of Edinburgh (Property and support staff)
University of Edinburgh (Furniture and equipment)
Arup (Digital Design)
SpACE Steering Group
Dr Richard Anderson (University of Edinburgh)
Rab Bennetts* (chair) (Bennetts Associates)
Denise Bennetts (Bennetts Associates)
Cllr Neil Gardiner (City of Edinburgh Council)
Graeme Gidney (Arup)
Eamonn Hughes* (Sir Robert McAlpine)
Aythan Lewes (RICS/GLM)
Joanne McClelland (Edinburgh Architectural Association/GLM)
Jim McDonald (Architecture & Design Scotland)
Fiona Rankin* (Edinburgh World Heritage Trust)
Tamsie Thomson (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland)
Robin Webster* (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland)
* Trustee of SpACE
