Burdiehouse

Burdiehouse is an affordable housing development on the corner of a busy crossroads within the suburbs of Edinburgh. Offering 18 apartments, split over three stories of accommodation, the new building frames the corner of the once derelict site.

Date

2015

Client

Cullross/Hillcrest Housing Association

Value

£1.3m

The design approach for the project stems from the idea of how the site is approached from all directions, either on foot or by car; and views the corner as a three dimensional urban condition. The building forms an ‘L’ shape intervention, which creates built frontage onto the busy roads, and as a result creates a positive corner in the neighbourhood. By adopting a contemporary approach to the roof scape (a simple variation on a traditional pitched roof) three different gable profiles were generated giving the building a different characteristic on each approach.

The existing stone wall was retained which creates a strong boundary to the site and the building follows the existing buildings lines, both of which helps to retain and strengthen the existing urban grain. The distinguishing features bring a new modern characteristic to the neighbourhood, in a subtle meaningful way and embrace this simple architectural proportion with a distinct design quality, and presence in the neighbourhood.

With no overarching building material that characterises the local context, like many suburban environments, a multi- varied face brick was chosen which sits well in the context. The warm toned brick has a vernacular appearance and the variety in the mix creates a rich grainy aesthetic which contrasts to the crisp detailing of windows and screens.