June 24 2025

The days of a vacant warehouse tucked away behind Leith Walk in Edinburgh could be numbered under plans to clear the site in preparation for an apart-hotel.

The hidden site comprises a yard enclosed by a high brick wall with lane access to the street through a tenement wall to be controlled by the installation of a new gate.

Block Nine Architects propose to work with the adjoining conservation area by keeping their head down, limiting the building height to three floors. Finished in buff brick with dark grey standing seam metal to the upper floors instead of a slate roof.

In a project summary, the architects observed: "The form and mass of the proposal are subservient to the rear of the nearby Category C listed buildings. The design is sympathetic to the setting of these buildings and offers an appropriate modern addition to the context with scale and materiality considered."

A green sedum roof at lower levels will soften views and the existing boundary wall retained to further minimise impact. A guest-only amenity space extending to 25% of the site area would also be provided.  

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Freshly on 24 Jun 2025 at 16:13 PM

Ahhhhh... Nothing like echoing noise of little trolleys dragged over this cobblestones at 4am, rushing to catch early flight home. Sleep well, residents.

#2 Posted by Dash on 24 Jun 2025 at 21:26 PM

@#1 - Yeh, those bloody tourists!
Coming round 'ere, spending their money.

#3 Posted by Zombie Apocalypse on 25 Jun 2025 at 10:23 AM

no.2 - See Venice? See Barcelona? See Edinburgh?

#4 Posted by George Buchanan on 25 Jun 2025 at 10:28 AM

Smashing looking scheme! Well done Block Nine Architects.

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