March 2 2021

A disused children's hospital in Edinburgh's Grange conservation district is to be converted to three homes through the replacement of low-quality extensions with contemporary additions better suited to living.

Led by Elpis Property and Morgan McDonnell Architecture the work will centre on two existing villas at Hope Terrace as well as a new build detached home to the east.

Work will reinstate distinct boundaries to both homes with extensive gardens permitting a third house to sit alongside finished in stone, slate, timber and zinc.

Morgan McDonnell wrote: " While the original feuing plans of the area contained a wide variety of architectural details and styles, there is a prevailing architectural unity which resulted from the strict feuing conditions and the consistent use of similar materials. The villas of the application site are unified by the same predominant use of blonde sandstone and other local building materials such as slate, timber and zinc. Although not limited by this palette the proposed additions will also use sandstone as a predominant material.

"The proposed additions to the site will also introduce more modern high-quality materials as secondary accents and counterpoints the main sandstone facades. Typically these will be in dark grey muted tones as to not negatively detract from the area character."

The contemporary villa will align with its immediate neighbour presenting a twin-bay symmetrical frontage to the street. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Infringemenot on 2 Mar 2021 at 08:44 AM

Remarkably similar to OCA's project around the corner, just saying!

#2 Posted by David on 2 Mar 2021 at 09:43 AM

Truly awful.

#3 Posted by TheFakeArchitect on 2 Mar 2021 at 10:22 AM

Truly mahooosive houses those! Fully expected the existing to be carved up into apartments. Not too sure about the new build either, has that temporary Portacabin vibe from the street view.

#4 Posted by Stylecouncil on 2 Mar 2021 at 17:10 PM

Utterly insipid ‘architecture’.
Also, I can’t believe the architect couldn’t be bothered to even take photographs for the montage!?
Just looks like no one could be bothered...

#5 Posted by Ban Dismalboxes on 3 Mar 2021 at 09:45 AM

That flat roofed box must have taken maybe 30 minutes to draw up. Anything more and the poor intern would have died of boredom. Here kid - make something that looks like a shoe box or a shipping container with some cladding.
In a couple of years this dull garbage will look the same as all the identical overpriced nothings being chucked up in a few months across the city: like a slightly stained, green at the edges, old Rubik's cube.
With an audi/ bmw/ merc/ range rover outside it on a vulgar wee "look at me" strip - natch.

#6 Posted by Whispering Andy on 3 Mar 2021 at 15:49 PM

Whisper it......but did East Kilbride not unsuccessfully deliver the 1970s/80s version of the portakabins hoose? Godawful, yet people moan about the good designs at Radisson and High Street.

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