Architects and designers were yesterday urged to pursue five principles when building homes, schools, hospitals, offices and other public places.

Architects and designers were yesterday urged to pursue five principles when building homes, schools, hospitals, offices and other public places.

The appeal was made in a government architectural strategy the Scottish Executive hopes will foster "excellence" in buildings constructed to stand the test of time.

However, the leader of the country's architecture body also warned that Scotland had not yet accepted that "great architecture and design" was necessary at all levels.

The five objectives were outlined by Patricia Ferguson, Culture Minister, in Building Our Legacy, an updated version from the original, which was published in 2001.

In part, the revised policy has been inspired by changes in the architectural landscape since, including the establishment of the Scottish Building Standards Agency and Architecture and Design Scotland, the quango formed to encourage high-quality work.

The strategy's first three objectives are to encourage high-quality buildings that provide an "outstanding legacy" in both public and private sectors; stimulate a cultural climate which values architecture in society; and provide the right skills support mechanisms to facilitate the creation of good buildings.

The final two objectives aim to strengthen the development of an architectural culture which embraces lasting and accessible design; and encourage a better understanding of the role that the existing heritage of building can play alongside new designs.

Ms Ferguson said: "We recognise the important contribution of architecture in making Scotland an attractive place to live, work and visit. Our new statement on architecture responds to the dynamic changes which have taken place in Scotland's built environment since the original policy was developed.

"We are keen to lead by example, to improve the quality of new projects and ensure they are sustainable for years to come."

She added: "I am extremely optimistic about the continuing achievements of Scottish architecture and can see growing international recognition of the strength of recent Scottish projects."

The strategy document features several examples of buildings the executive considers worthy of praise, including several Maggie's cancer caring centres, the Hidden Gardens project in Glasgow, the Bridge in Easterhouse and the new HQ of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Raymond Young, chairman of Architecture and Design Scotland, said: "I think it is a brave move to have a revised policy, because it has not been that long a time to review where we are and where we are going, and it is encouraging that architecture and design have been considered important at the highest level of government," he said.

"But is Scotland at that tipping point where good plans, good buildings are generally accepted as desirable? The answer is no: we need to up our game, and it is not just about architecture, it is about quality right across the board.

"The important point about sustainability is that it is not just about green housing', but that we are building what will be the future areas of conservation, the kind of buildings we want to see long into the future."

Nick Barley, director of The Lighthouse, Scotland's architecture and design centre, said Scotland should be proud it had an architecture policy. No other part of the UK did.

Good examples

Examples of better architecture, according to the national architecture policy document released yesterday.
Shetland Museum and Archives The £10m project was designed by the Building Design Partnership of Glasgow and Nicholas Groves-Raines, at Hay's Dock, which was constructed in 1815 and is B listed. The new museum uses many recycled materials, including stone from demolitions, reclaimed oak and pine, and timbers from boats

Silvermill Residential Development, Edinburgh
On the northern edge of the New Town, previously a site for garages, parking and unmatched building, developers AMA signed Oberlanders Architects and Reiach and Hall Architects to design each side of the street in the spirit of its Georgian surroundings

Telford Road, Edinburgh
Designed by Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop Architects for Manor Estates, a charitable housing association. It is seen as a prime example of good design with affordable housing, intended to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of a strip of disused railway land behind Telford Drive

Signal Station House, North Queensferry
A Ministry of Defence signal tower, it was still in use until the mid-1990s. The octagonal tower was bought by Euan Miller, a partner in Icosis Architects, who transformed it into his family home. It is seen as a good example of sustainable design'', with sheep's wool and newspaper used as insulation, and the main roof finished using planted turf.
The Bridge, Easterhouse, Glasgow Designed by Gareth Hoskins Architects, the centre is a hub for arts and learning activities, including a theatre, library, dance studio, recording studios and a cafe, as well as an office for the National Theatre of Scotland. It also acts as a link between the Easterhouse swimming pool and John Wheatley College