An Turas, a Scottish Arts Council funded project for Architect, Artist and Engineer to collaborate in making a structure for the island of Tiree, was created by Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart and Sandra Kennedy. The £100,000 project, completed in March 2003, was described by the judging panel for the award as " small, simple and sophisticated, reticent, refined and rigorous, a modern interpretation of the Gazebo and a stunning architectural experience".

The award was established last year in recognition of the growing number of innovative, exciting new buildings in Scotland. Building projects of all sizes and types from across the country were eligible for the award, but must have demonstrated innovation, design excellence and competence. Other considerations for the judges were: detailing of materials, sustainable design, technical ability and aesthetic appeal.

The judging panel spent three days visiting a wide variety of projects from around Scotland. The five finalists were chosen as the best examples of new building design in Scotland, which matched the stringent criteria of the award.

Summarising the judges' comments on the winner, Professor Andy MacMillan said: "Poetically named An Turas, A Journey, it is small, simple and sophisticated, reticent, refined and rigorous, a modern interpretation of the Gazebo and a stunning architectural experience. Not a shelter, but a place in which to experience Tiree, the big sky, the unending wind and water, the beauty of the island and its squalor.

This impeccably detailed small building is the result of a creative collaboration of architects, artists and an engineer, located at the place of arrival and departure from the island it cannot be missed.

A paradigm of Tiree, the journey between its walls simultaneously reveals the idealised view of sea and ethnic housing, while making visible the big sky above, and by its exclusion by the sheltering walls, the ever-present wind. Arrival in the glass box reveals a triptych of views. To the left, the dry stane dyke, the upthrust power pole and its trailing wires and the out of place Victorian bye law house. To the right, the pier – the place of first and last impression, the "Pizza Hut"-like ticket and waiting rooms for the ferry, the container and lorry park, the pebbledash bungalows on the road. And finally, when it rains, the glass roof holds the blown water long enough to create a shifting pattern of light and a waterfall down the glass front.

A place of subtle insight, poetically conceived, stunning in its import, immaculately constructed." The award was presented at Point Conference Centre, Edinburgh on Thursday 23 October.

Other shortlisted entries:

Westport, Evolution House, Edinburgh
Reiach and Hall Architects
"Westport, Evolution House exploits a constricted but very visible site to provide two immaculately detailed column-free rows of lettable offices serviced by a narrow innovative hall. This contains circulation and services, lit by tall voids, with staircases offering splendid views, as undoubtedly did the offices. A set back upper penthouse storey has rooftop gardens with wonderful views over the rooftops to the Castle. What impressed the jury most was the rigorous detailing and the sustainability built into its servicing and the sheer quality of the material finish."

Mossman Houses, Edinburgh
Arcade Architects
"The Mossman Houses in Merchiston Mews are an exemplary demonstration of elegant modernity that nevertheless respect and strengthen their low level surroundings. They cleverly exploit the change in level across the site, placing the living accommodation above to exploit the extra height under the pitched roof, with bedrooms and bathrooms below. Careful choice of materials, clever use of natural light and scrupulous attention to detail able demonstrate how a clever architect can create architecture on a constricted and modest site."

Kilncraigs Mill Redevelopment, Alloa
LDN Architects
"From Alloa came an ambitious Council conservation project - a splendid example of collaboration of architects, planners, developers and council staff to produce a holistic regeneration of a historic part of the town. The project entailed the conversion of two remaining listed Mills into open plan offices served by and reinvigorated by a modern fully glazed external Atrium hall. The site made available by demolition of the remainder of the Mills was laid out in collaboration with a supermarket developer to provide a tree-lined mall leading to the old Castle and providing access to the offices and the supermarket building. Its success in regeneration is both visible and underlined by reaching its occupancy target a year earlier than planned. Again detail was carefully considered, simple and successful."

Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow
Gordon Murray + Alan Dunlop Architects
"The Radisson SAS Hotel has clearly aroused some popular emotion. It is big, bold, perhaps even brash but it does respect the city block, it understands the pavement, on closer examination it presents a clear concept underlying its planning. Its various parts are made visible in a tall top-lit space rising up behind its "signboard" street façade, it fashionable public parts clearly visible and usable at ground level and the bedrooms and business facilities above innovative and excitingly detailed."