The epitaph on a base of Doddington stone carved by John Neilson for a bronze bust of Rabindranath Tagore.

The legendary Lake Aghtamar Restaurant in Exile is looking for a new and caring owner.  A delightful BBC film gives a good view of Bedross, it’s famous owner, and the happy memories of many people.  It is being marketed by Allied Surveyors.

David Sim, our favourite design friend, meets Jemima Harrison, our favourite student, in Malmo, Sweden. The Practice takes the greatest pleasure in seeing the international successes of our old boys & girls! thinkSofter.com

The Royal Collection Trust has just published a magnificent, beautifully illustrated and thoroughly researched history by Deborah Clarke.  One thing it doesn’t show is the original design for the front of what is now called the King’s Gallery. Palace of Holyrood House – Project Summary

Unlike Alexander McCall Smith’s mythical 44 Scotland Street, 10 Scotland Street by Leslie Hills is real but populated by just as many, if not more, real-life historical and fantastical characters.  Meticulously researched and beautifully written, BTA are fortunate to have played a small part in its long and fascinating history. New Shower & Bathroom – Edinburgh

For more than 40 years BTA have never specified toxic chemicals for treating timber decay.  This has been based on our understandings of sound construction and not wishing to poison clients, craftspeople, users or the environment.  We have observed how the old timber that lasts is no different to modern timber, except that the old timber was floated down rivers …

The speed and fitness of the runners in the 2024 World Orienteering Championship was incredible. One of the official routes through Edinburgh’s Old Town was up to our garden and through the office! Fortunately the weather was wonderful too.

Among many other artefacts at Victoria Terrace, a map of Scotland has plotted completed projects over the years.  The map is not exhaustive, but still travels to Highlands and islands.  Interestingly, when looking at the furthest to the North and South BTA have ventured (on this map), both projects venture back to the Neolithic Period. Skaill House at Skara Brae, …

An illustration summarising a study led by BTA for The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, illustrated by the Union of Genius, a famous café and part of a tenement block.   The conclusion is that it is possible to reduce the carbon footprint of existing buildings, but it is difficult.  ‘Dynamic Simulation Modelling’ by Harley Haddow suggested that energy expenditure costed …

At BTA, we think the super ellipse is super! We believed it to be created by Piet Hein (Danish poet and polymath) to solve a design problem for Sergels Torg traffic intersection in Stockholm, but it was actually first created by the mathematician, Gabriel Lamé, in C.19th France.  It is the perfect combination of a rectangle and an ellipse and makes …