Project Details.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Construction Value: Not Disclosed
Client: Private client

Our clients purchased this stunning 19th century Scottish Baronial property in 2017, however the interior was dated and inefficient for modern family life. Our brief was to bring the property into the 21st century, juxtaposing the historic structure with a contemporary new extension which would sit comfortably within the Inverleith Conservation area.

Due to a high level of objection to a similar sized project within the immediate vicinity, BLOCK NINE formed a strategical approach to the Planning process, and consulted with a local Conservation Group (the Inverleith Society) for comment at early design stages and in advance of the submission. Their comments were acknowledged and the design marginally adapted. This approach won the support of local community and conservation groups, and the application was well received by the Planning department and quickly approved under delegated powers.

The scale of the extension was minimised to the public realm by retaining it at single storey to the street elevation, however in order to achieve the increased level of accommodation on the site, the natural topography of the garden which fell away to the rear of the property was exploited to form a new basement level. Extensive excavation works were undertaken with modern tanking and structural retention technology utilised to form the new basement. The new single storey ground level extension to the rear projects from the original property and oversails a large 2 storey stone landscaped retaining wall, with a light floating rendered planar feature encompassing a contemporary timber and glass South facing wall which contrasts with the heavy weight of the historic building.

The entirety of the existing building was completely refurbished to an extremely high standard and finished with contemporary fittings and decoration complimenting the existing interior features, whilst the new extension formed an unashamedly light modern addition around the outside of the host property with the original stone exterior now forming internal feature walls which, naturally lit by frameless glass rooflights and large expanses of sliding glass walls.