Leith apartment scheme invokes areas industrial heritage
July 11 2016
Occupying the site of the former Edinburgh Roperie and Sailcloth Co. The Ropeworks will offer 600 properties from open plan loft apartments to garden duplexes, terraces and colony houses.
Director Dan Teague commented: “The previous planning consent was of its time so we have brought forward a fresh modern design in conjunction with CDA Architects. We want to create a visionary new place with contemporary high quality apartments and houses.”
CDA director David Hannah added: “The Salamander Place master plan involves the regeneration of a large urban site to create a new set of spaces, buildings and landscaping – including a new landscaped park and extensions to the existing allotments – which together will create a new place in Edinburgh within very easy reach of the city centre.”
The first phase of this project will see 163 flats with undercroft parking built on brownfield land which has lain dormant since 2007 but its backers believe the time is now right to press ahead, with construction expected by April 2017.
17 Comments
#1 Posted by Gringo on 11 Jul 2016 at 10:45 AM
Ah yes, the scheme really evokes a sense of 'industrial heritage', what with its bland biscuit-brick box and one window type.....
#2 Posted by Fraser on 11 Jul 2016 at 10:48 AM
I cannot be the only person that thinks this is unnecessarily banal and bland. Why is it so faceless? I imagine it without the balconies and see it for what it is. Not impressive detailing anyway. Budget thing?
#3 Posted by "El" on 11 Jul 2016 at 13:35 PM
@ Fraser
I totally understand your point but its a silly comment really. You might as well write;
"Imagine an elephant without its trunk."
Both have these elements, so why highlight this point.
There is definitely seems to be lack of effort in terms of elevational treatment and detailing.
I totally understand your point but its a silly comment really. You might as well write;
"Imagine an elephant without its trunk."
Both have these elements, so why highlight this point.
There is definitely seems to be lack of effort in terms of elevational treatment and detailing.
#4 Posted by Fraser on 11 Jul 2016 at 13:43 PM
@3
Yup, you're right. I was just wanting to point out how painfully insipid it is ????
Yup, you're right. I was just wanting to point out how painfully insipid it is ????
#5 Posted by Brut100 on 11 Jul 2016 at 14:01 PM
Boring boring boring boring boring boring boring boring...
#6 Posted by Basho on 11 Jul 2016 at 15:40 PM
Did they even look at the industrial heritage they wanted to 'honour'? If you look at all the old bonded warehouses at The Shore in Leith they all display far more character and design ambition than this bland box guff.
I hope the rest of the scheme isn't as timid and cost managed as the above image suggests.
I hope the rest of the scheme isn't as timid and cost managed as the above image suggests.
#7 Posted by Mr Boring on 11 Jul 2016 at 16:43 PM
Im going to go out on a limb here and say I like it!!! Nothing wrong with a little restraint and refinement- dont confuse this for a lack of ambition. If this is detailed well, and the right selection of brick is made, then this will look great. Not every building needs to be over-designed
#8 Posted by Gringo on 11 Jul 2016 at 17:40 PM
@mr boring
It wouldn't be so bad if they were honest enough to describe it that way- rather than trying to apply some 'architecture' to it after the event, and fool no one in the process.
I still think it's super-bland for the record.
It wouldn't be so bad if they were honest enough to describe it that way- rather than trying to apply some 'architecture' to it after the event, and fool no one in the process.
I still think it's super-bland for the record.
#9 Posted by Mr Boring on 11 Jul 2016 at 18:13 PM
The project description outlined in CDA's quote seems pretty straight forward and to the point - no BS unlike alot of design statements. Im guessing its the 'honour the industrial heritage' part you're are taking umbrage at - is this just creative journalism from UR ? I haven't read anything else online about the project so the architects may have said that - may not have. The building looks robust and to the point - honesty in design and budget is something akin to alot industrial building. Im quite happy walking down the street and for good buildings to blend into the streetscape. Architecture as a profession needs to find virtue in the everyday and in what the market can deliver - beauty through simplicity, order, repetition, hierarchy ( not every building needs to command our attention ).... etc, etc.
#10 Posted by Diner Tec on 12 Jul 2016 at 08:45 AM
Ignoring the journo blurb, (Mr Boring has a point) I am struggling to see any real significant aesthetic difference (other than the obvious - that one has holes in a wall and the other is more structure and skin, but so what) between the Pitt St hotel below (Portsmouth Dock warehouse building) and this housing at Leith (Albert ‘Tatlock’ Dock building Liverpool/Moss Quadrant buildings, Glasgow) and yet these two similar schemes attracted these wildly differing responses:
Cracking, right, I love the design/colour/ a good edge, great way to salvage…, transformed, alright, brilliant and -
Bland biscuit brick box banal faceless lack of effort painfully insipid cost-managed timid and boring boring boring!
So what's it to be then? Or are these comments just about superficial taste? Have a nice day, y'all.
Cracking, right, I love the design/colour/ a good edge, great way to salvage…, transformed, alright, brilliant and -
Bland biscuit brick box banal faceless lack of effort painfully insipid cost-managed timid and boring boring boring!
So what's it to be then? Or are these comments just about superficial taste? Have a nice day, y'all.
#11 Posted by urbanrealm on 12 Jul 2016 at 10:00 AM
Mr Boring - The developer has briefed that they wish to mark the areas maritime history and has named the project 'The Ropeworks' in this regard.
#12 Posted by Daniel on 12 Jul 2016 at 10:13 AM
It's nothing flashy, but they're also trying to sell flats in a pretty marginal location, so that's business.
What should be seen as important about it is that it's a further sign of growing confidence in this part of the city from the private sector - something that has been sorely lacking post-2008. There's a huge amount of cleared and/or derelict land around the lower parts of Constitution Street and Salamander Street, and it's so dreadful.
What should be seen as important about it is that it's a further sign of growing confidence in this part of the city from the private sector - something that has been sorely lacking post-2008. There's a huge amount of cleared and/or derelict land around the lower parts of Constitution Street and Salamander Street, and it's so dreadful.
#13 Posted by Baho on 12 Jul 2016 at 12:36 PM
Not trying to be precious here. The scheme's okay. But it's claiming to be something it's not. Developers get caught out by their own BS. Here's just a couple of the many impressive warehouses in Leith.
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Former_bonded_warehouse,_John%27s_Place_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1638121.jpg
http://www.leithhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_9128.jpg
It's just a bit depressing that utilitarian storage buildings from the eighteen hundreds had more chutzpah than new build housing just along the road.
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Former_bonded_warehouse,_John%27s_Place_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1638121.jpg
http://www.leithhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/IMG_9128.jpg
It's just a bit depressing that utilitarian storage buildings from the eighteen hundreds had more chutzpah than new build housing just along the road.
#14 Posted by dalrylama on 13 Jul 2016 at 12:59 PM
They should name it 'Prostitute Corner' in homage to the trade that has been, and is still plied in that particular area.
#15 Posted by Dorothy Williamson on 18 May 2017 at 21:14 PM
Roperie was mentioned but my first job was there when Scottish & Newcastle Breweries had their whisky bond McKinlay McPherson there and in it's day was a very lucrative business. In the 5 yrs I worked there I can assure you there were no prostitutes on the corner!! New housing is very welcomed in this area and having lived in Leith for 40 years so glad to see all the development going on for affordable housing. C'mon people u cannot get the OLD style build anymore as so expensive - such a pity. New modern housing is the way forward.
#16 Posted by oldsomewhatleithy on 15 Jun 2017 at 10:01 AM
@Dorothy Williamson - there may have been no prostitution in the vicinity in the 5 years you worked there, but I can assure you that (as a local resident) there is now, and has been for a good few years. I'm sure once this housing is built and occupied these women will be moved [pushed] on.
#17 Posted by Peter on 5 Oct 2017 at 14:57 PM
I reckon they will look amazing once they are up.
Post your comments
Read previous: Aberdeen key worker housing hits planning snag
Back to July 2016
Like us on Facebook
Become a fan and share
News Archive
Search News
Features & Reports
For more information from the industry visit our Features & Reports section.