September 3 2018

Reiach and Hall Architects have secured planning approval for a 170sq/m home for the artist Alan Johnston in Edinburgh, enabling an expected start on site to be made early next year.

Taking the form of two overlapping cuboids the playful geometry allows accommodation to be split between a larger living space and smaller studio, study and library with both elements coming together at a central stair.

Partially embedded into the natural slope of the garden to keep the overall height of the build in check the Gros Max landscape design includes strategically placed plants to work with a muted palette of grey render and stone to further minimising visual intrusion.

In a statement the architects wrote: “Although modest, the Johnston House enables Reiach and Hall to explore architectural ideas at a level that is generally impossible in today’s bureaucratic and controlled procurement environment.

The bespoke home is inspired by a collaborative sculptural piece conceived by Johnston in partnership with Reiach and Hall’s Neil Gillespie, exhibited at the Henry Moore Foundation, Leeds, in 2010.

5 Comments

#1 Posted by Jezza Alexander on 3 Sep 2018 at 12:06 PM

Design fees - £2

#2 Posted by Mansart on 3 Sep 2018 at 12:49 PM

I really don't think R&H have done much architectural exploration if the exterior is anything to go by - it hardly inspires. An internal image would be good.

#3 Posted by Brian Sewell on 3 Sep 2018 at 13:29 PM

£2...if that, and yet (OT), after a cursory check on the internet, Mr. Johnston (who?) and his agents think his three rectangles of black, grey and white are worth £6,500. Art as commodity indeed. Oh how these people must just love themselves. What's more, I see that some have actually been sold! - truly obscene.

#4 Posted by Bill S on 3 Sep 2018 at 14:33 PM

I really like this scheme from the two images shown and want to learn more about the design and context. UR, can you upload some drawings? Or perhaps link to the planning application?

#5 Posted by Cadmonkey on 3 Sep 2018 at 15:59 PM

Just a couple of technical points:
1. Why would you want to encourage ivy to crawl up the front of a rendered elevation (or is that the "strategically placed plants to work with a muted palette of grey render and stone to further minimising visual intrusion" cough!)
2.If these CGIs are accurate and the house is so close to overhanging trees then a maintenance man is going to need to be up on the roof several times during autumn alone clearing out blocked gutters. Why the flat roof?

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