August 29 2019

An Edinburgh nursery is set to make way for three conjoined townhouses under planning proposals brought forward by Block9 Architects for the Plewlands Conservation Area.

The Headstart Nursery School on Morningside Drive will be demolished to allow the creation of modern homes taking their massing cue from an adjacent Victorian terrace and stretching from a basement level through private gardens to a roof terrace.

In practice, this sees the townhouse immediately adjacent to the neighbouring terrace given a smaller penthouse level to help mediate the change in scale.

In a design statement the architects stated: “The ground floor of each townhouse – articulated in charred timber cladding - is intended to read as a plinth that supports the more keenly expressed first and second floor, clad in stone; while the scale and positioning of window openings provide balance and rhythm on each facade - a considered, contemporary interpretation of the adjacent terrace.”
 
A high-quality materials palette of buff/grey sandstone, charred timber and anthracite brick has been selected for the build.

4 Comments

#1 Posted by rankbadyin on 29 Aug 2019 at 12:17 PM

Who deigned it out of character? The NIMBYs heads will explode if they think the new development is any more in character with the street.

#2 Posted by KLD on 29 Aug 2019 at 13:15 PM

Always good to see densification on the site of old single storey buildings. That being said, the existing nursery building has a bit of charm.

#3 Posted by Clarinda on 29 Aug 2019 at 16:56 PM

I don't actually mind the contrasting modern design, sometimes when you can't match the materials/design it is better to go bold.

That being said, just to be more in keeping with the street, the new properties should be set back from the road in line with the existing properties and it would also be nice to see some matching roof lines.

#4 Posted by Hilloch on 30 Aug 2019 at 14:46 PM

The hedges on the existing buildings read 'TIT' when viewed upside down.

Coincidence I'm sure.

Post your comments