Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament scores with White Peak.
SO, how did they do it? Defying the critics, to scoop the biggest accolade in British Architecture, RIBA's Stirling Prize?
In the words of the judges, the new Scottish Parliament building is 'a statement of sparkling excellence'. Its design, bringing together a broad palette of materials including steel, concrete, oak, granite and limewash, has been hailed one of the most innovative in Britain. And since it opened last September, the £431m complex at the foot of Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile has attracted worldwide interest.
One of the secrets of its success has been the astonishing attention to detail and execution. Nowhere more so than in the restoration of Queensberry House, a seventeenth century mansion forming part of the Parliamentary complex.
It's a project in which White Peak, the leading limewash from Buxton Lime Industries, played a key role.
Limewash has been used in Britain since Roman times. It provides an inexpensive, sympathetic coating that that gives protection and beauty to render, masonry and plasterwork on internal and external walls. As it ages, limewash develops a patina unrivalled by paint and allows the building fabric to 'breathe'.
White Peak combines these traditional qualities with the benefits of modern know-how. It's finding a growing market in renovation work. On Grade 1-listed Queensberry House, it proved a real winner.
Built in around 1667, Queensberry House was home to some of the most important men of the time, including the second Duke of Queensberry, who was influential in unifying Scotland and England. His son went down in history for roasting alive a servant on a spit in the building's kitchen.
Within those walls these days sit various officials including the Scottish Parliament's chief executive and presiding officers and other staff. Queensberry House has been given a concrete and steel structure inside to strengthen it, and blast-resistant secondary glazing. Where internal stonework is of a high quality it has been left exposed.
On the outside though, it's an authentic look that stretches back centuries. From the outset, architects EMBT/RMJM were seeking to re-create the appearance Queensberry House had enjoyed during its 'heyday' in the late seventeenth century.
That was a huge job - from restoring the building to its original height, roof profile and Dutch gables, to reinstating sash and case windows, to stripping off cement-based render, to lime-harling the walls with a traditional raised finish, and coating them with coloured limewash.
White Peak limewash in a buff finish supplied by Masons Mortar Ltd of Leith was used on all the exterior walls of Queensberry House and their continuation internally into the glazed Garden Lobby and on various office walls.
White Peak is known as a top class, quality product. Buxton Lime's advanced manufacturing produces a limewash of unparalleled performance. The use of ultrafine particles in the mix means maximum coverage and a brilliant rich finish, with minimal stirring.
It also has a shorter 'maturing time' and better permeability than conventional limewash. It is consistent in physical and chemical characteristics due to stringent quality assurance. It contains no toxic compounds or solvents.
Even so, the decision to go with White Peak wasn't taken lightly. Historic Scotland was brought in and the design team took guidance from other buildings designed by Queensberry House's legendary architect, James Smith.
Fragments of render believed to be from the late seventeenth century were removed for analysis by archaeologists and the Scottish Lime Centre. And only then did the team select White Peak. Its sheer quality and the Scottish Lime Centre's technical support were vital components in restoring the external fabric of Queensberry House.
