Craig Soutar Architecture

29/05/2026

Paddington Bear ay York Minster 🐻

You might not have heard, but York is now home to its very own Paddington Bear bench. To mark the release of Paddington in Peru, a whole series of beautifully designed benches have appeared across the UK, and York was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the stops. You could drop by at lunchtime and have a sandwich and a chat. It’s absolutely charming!

I wonder if Paddington knowns anything about the history of the building?😅🙂

Photo by John Wellock

24/05/2026

Australian artist Annie Holcombe's amazing work.

Annie Holcombe is a renowned Australian artist acclaimed for her innovative endeavors across diverse mediums, including painting, ceramics, and textiles.

Her distinctive 'doodle embroidery' style has garnered significant recognition and is taught in workshop formats. Annie's embroidery, consistent with her other artistic creations, exemplifies a favored Naïve aesthetic.

Her works are distinguished by their captivating charm, vibrant color palettes, and detailed representations of rural life and scenes inspired by the Australian landscape and her travels, particularly in Tuscany, Italy.

22/05/2026

I thought this was an interesting photo taken in the US that captures something quite nostalgic from it's railroad past...

"✨Built by the railroad companies themselves, these were small homes or dormitories positioned right along a stretch of track. They were used to house the “section boss” (foreman) and the track maintenance crew so workers were immediately on hand in case of an emergency. This house was once located along the track but was moved further away for a residence." Tanya Ann in Florida

20/05/2026

A concept sketch intended for a site in the Seaview Area, IOW

18/05/2026

I 🫶 this idea. 🙂

14/05/2026

Radio City Music Hall
A New York Icon Across Time

Some buildings do more than stand on a street. They carry a presence. Radio City Music Hall has always said to be one of those places. It does not simply host entertainment. It creates an atmosphere the moment you see it.

Today the marquee still glows with the same confidence that has welcomed generations of visitors. The Art Deco façade rises with elegant curves and clean lines. Inside, the grand staircases and sweeping auditorium feel like a celebration of light and space. It is a building designed to lift the spirit.

Now picture it in the late nineteen seventies. New York was gritty and full of restless energy. Crowds still gathered under the bright lights. Taxis streamed past. The Rockettes kept perfect time on stage. Yet behind the scenes the future of the theatre was uncertain. Attendance had fallen. The old combination of film and live performance was becoming difficult to sustain. There was real talk of closure. People who loved the building refused to accept that outcome. Their determination led to landmark protection in nineteen seventy eight and that decision saved Radio City from demolition.

For decades the hall had been the place where films made their grand entrance. The screen was enormous and the seating was spaced in a way that made every showing feel like an event. Audiences watched everything from early Hollywood adventures to beloved family classics. The experience was unlike any other cinema in the city.

After the turning point of the late seventies the building adapted. The traditional movie and stage format ended in nineteen seventy nine and Radio City stepped into a new role. Concerts, premieres and special events filled the stage. The hall became known not only for its history but for its ability to evolve.

These photos not only shows the building off but also how the city has changed while Radio City Music Hall continues to shine with the same unmistakable presence.

10/05/2026

The Buck’s Head Building
Argyle Street, Glasgow
Most people walk along Argyle Street without ever noticing the architecture above the shopping level. At number 63 stands the Buck’s Head Building, designed in 1863 by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson and now protected as an A‑listed structure.

This building replaced the old Buck’s Head Hotel, where Thomson used the site to test new ideas. Behind the stone frontage is an early iron‑framed structure, an approach that marked a shift in Victorian building methods.

The façade is packed with detail: tapering cast‑iron columns, a projecting balcony, carved stonework and, on the corner, a sculpted buck recalling the former inn.

Thomson’s interest in classical ornament earned him his nickname, but his work was never simply decorative. The Buck’s Head Building shows how he combined historical motifs with emerging engineering techniques, helping establish his reputation as one of Scotland’s most significant architects.

Next time you’re on Argyle Street, look above the crowds - the upper floors may tell a far richer story than the shopfronts below.

08/05/2026

This is an incredible photograph taken back in around 1895 of what was then called Pier Road, Ryde. The photograph clearly shows buildings on the other side of the road back then (click the photo itself to see them). I note the King Lud, which was called the King Lud Hotel at the time. What’s remarkable is that those remaining buildings along the front have retained so much of their original architecture from that period.

This kind of survival is said to be quite unusual, as many English seaside towns saw major 20th‑century redevelopment, especially in the 1960s-80s, which replaced Victorian seafronts with modern blocks that changed their heritage feel.

07/05/2026

01/05/2026

This has been an interesting project that I recently designed and is now completed and recently opened to the public - converting a bank into a dental practice in Ryde. Given its size and technical complexities, it was very much a collective effort, with every trade’s input and expertise contributing towards its seamless ex*****on - from the drawing board, through to on-site construction, and resulting in its timely opening.

A shout out to Damira Dental, Dental Build and their sub contractor teams, ACS Construction, Harrison Contractors, Firntec, Gartec, Wight Fire Doors, Island Air Conditioning and all others who contributed to this much‑needed new dental practice in Ryde, Isle of Wight.