Project Details

Situated in a nature reserve in the outskirts of Edinburgh, this one-off house perches on a hilltop above the surrounding countryside. The house was designed to embrace both modern comfort and rural living. The materials used are in keeping with the locality: Scottish larch cladding on the walls and a slate roof.

Sustainable technologies have been incorporated into the design. The house is highly insulated, maintaining the internal temperature in the spring and summer with the use of a wood pellet boiler in the winter months.

The layout and design have created truly unique spaces, capturing the stunning views and enhancing contact with nature. Internally, the living area consists of a double height space, which creates a real sense of lightness. Externally, the timber decking extends into the landscape leading you from the house out into the forest

Project Details

The building was formerly part of a large estate and was adapted from a coach house into a residential property in more recent times. The space where the new extension is now situated, accommodated a carport roof and a small porch, which separated the front of the house from the garden at the back. The client required a new wing to the house to meet the demands of a growing family and also to enjoy the indoor and outdoor spaces more effectively.

The main priority during the design process was to ensure the new extension complimented the existing building. The archway motif was recreated on the entrance elevation and coursed red sandstone with traditional stone quoin details were used on all the facades.

The selection of the stone was of prime importance so that the colour and quality matched the original as closely as possible. The existing asethetics and colour palette were further enhanced by the use of rosemary tiles on the roof.

In terms of layout, there is a large entrance hallway with a utility room to one side on the ground floor. Through the hall there is a facing door that provides direct access out to the expansive rear garden. Upstairs there is a master bedroom complete with an en-suite bathroom, creating a new separate apartment. This frees up the rest of the sleeping accommodation in the main house for children and guests.

Project Details

This flat in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town was purchased by the new owners as an investment opportunity. The basic structure was intact and the reception rooms and large hallway retained their grandeur, but the flat required rearrangement and good deal of modernisation. Stripping back the layers of paper and removing the carpet lead to some interesting discoveries including stone slabs in the hall and kitchen. As part of the works these slabs were polished up and have become an integral feature.

The main issue with the existing layout was that the bathroom facilities were in two separate locations and were not making the best possible use of space. By opening this all up, a new arrangement was devised whereby a generous bathroom and several good sized cupboards were created without detracting from the original features of the hall. Full use was made of the extensive height of the rooms by forming a lowered ceiling over the bathroom, providing an additional level of storage space. Within the bedrooms, existing fireplaces were opened up and new period feature built-in wardrobes were added. These wardrobes look like they have always been in place with the use of authentic architraves, moldings and panelled doors. The kitchen is modern in design and makes full use of the existing space with its high ceiling and large proportions. The bold colour schemes used throughout, perfectly accentuate the period features.

Project Details

Harbour House was derelict and in need of attention. Viewpoint Housing Association saw the potential in purchasing this Grade ‘B’ Listed building and re-constructing it to be used as individual flats.

The project had a long lead in time and Christopher Dinnis Associates were involved from the beginning right through to completion. We helped to secure the appropriate permissions and Historic Scotland grant funding in order to make the project happen. This particular project was also a part of Kirkcaldy’s Townscape Heritage Initiative.

Following various proposals and consultations with the Planners and other conservation organisations, the final design solution was reached. A range of bespoke flats were to be housed in the various levels of the existing main house with a new build extension to the rear containing two further flats and a curved stairwell for access.

To facilitate the reconstruction process, the existing roof and all the internal floors and walls were to be demolished with only the external walls remaining. These stone perimeter walls were then held in postion using retention scaffolding as the works progressed. A central spine wall was constructed with the floors inserted one-by-one to separate the flats into their discrete units. Many of the flats were designed as maisonettes, benefiting from the multiple levels. Internally period Georgian details were recreated with the inclusion of high ceilings, cornice work and shutter details. The glazing units installed were traditional lead weighted sash and case windows with astragals.

Externally, lime render was applied to the rear and side elevations in consultation with the Scottish Lime Centre. The front dressed-stone elevation had previously been painted and so a special substance was applied to remove most of the paint without damaging the stonework. The stone is still weathering down to its original natural state. New stone copes, chimneys, window surrounds and cornicing were also reinstated together with all the appropriate traditional lead roof and secret gutter details.

Project Details

The house is situated in a former paddock in a secluded rural area to the south of Edinburgh.

The building achieves high visual impact due to its bespoke features, drawing inspiration from Scottish Baronial designs of the past. Externally high-quality materials have been used to form a series of traditional features such as crow-stepped gables, turret roofs, sash and case windows, finial details and a semi-circular lead roof.

Internally the house is spacious and modern with the use of contrasting materials such as limestone tiles, hardwood floors and oak paneled doors. The entrance hallway is a double height space, overlooked by the bedroom gallery, with the sweeping circular staircase drawing you up to the first floor.

The kitchen is a large open plan space with custom made walnut units, extending into the semi-circular glazed family area overlooking the garden. There are connecting doors between the dining room and the lounge, which can be opened up for entertaining.

There are seven generous bedrooms on the upper level, each with their own unique en-suite bathroom and dressing room. The master-bedroom opens onto a terrace which offers beautiful views of the landscaped garden and the surrounding countryside. Playful decorative elements have also been added to the interior such as joiner-made curved doors to several of the turrets.

Project Details

This single storey annex is situated on a separate plot adjacent to an existing Georgian villa in Newington, Edinburgh.

The design evolved in response to particular planning constraints. An existing garage was demolished to accommodate the new house, so the scale of the development could not exceed one storey in height. In order to achieve enjoyable living conditions in terms of light penetration into the core of the space, a central courtyard was devised. This pleasantly lights the sequence of rooms which fill the long rectangular plan form.

The lounge at the rear of the property is located in a feature space with a pyramid roof form and central cupola detail.  Large sliding doors and high level windows help to generate a real sense of connection to the outside, with the movement of mature trees clearly visible. The open-air courtyard between the lounge and bedroom draws light into the heart of the house and also provides a private patio area. The kitchen, at the front of the property, is the full width of the plan with a vista all the way throught to the end of the house via glass doors.

The stone used on the side coursed-rubble wall was recycled from the former garage with new dressed stone introduced on the front facade. The existing slates were also re-used along the roof.

The house is an intricate blend of old and new, settling into its position as though it has always been there.

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Project Description

This project involved releasing the potential of a largely unused existing attic space by converting it into additional rooms. The original roof space was accessed via a makeshift stair, with two storage areas divided up with a crawl space between. The roof structure was such that appropriate head heights were already achievable. During the works the ceiling heights were improved by stripping back the ceiling finish to reveal the original rafters and insulation was inserted in between. A larger opening was formed through the chimney breast between the two roof spaces creating a bedroom with an ensuite, an office space and a separate walk-in storage area, maximising the floor space available.

For access, a sturdy built-in staircase was fitted in an existing small room leading from the first floor landing and up into this new vast loft conversion. Roof windows were installed offering brilliant views onto the Firth of Forth on a clear day. The spaces were enhanced with the used of natural materials and neutral colours. The open riser staircase has a painted finish, leading up onto the oak flooring of the new top storey. The whitewashed effect of the rafters and ceilings contrast well with the warm hues of the sunlight when it streams through the roof windows onto the wooden floor. The original stone walls were uncovered, the joints repointed and the walls were sealed to complete the rustic look.

Project Details

The restored property on Fingal Place forms the bookend to a Georgian terrace of flatted townhouses, which are all Grade ‘A’ listed.

The external stone was in very poor condition and various non-period details had been added over the years, including cement render to the chimneys, which were not in keeping with the aesthetics of the original architecture. The brief was therefore to re-instate the period details and restore the external stonework.

At the front the finish of the new natural stone was Ashlar on the lower level and Broached Ashlar on the upper storeys. Red sandstone with a random rubble finish was used on the rear elevations. All the stone was cut to match existing details with particular emphasis on the bowed front configuration on the corner of Fingal Place and Argyle Place.

All the windows were replaced with traditional timber sash and case units with lead weights and astragals.

The original stone eaves detail had been removed and roof profile altered over time. As part of the work, the eaves detail was re-instated and the roof returned to the original design.

This project was coordinated by Christopher Dinnis Associates on behalf of the joint owners of the property. Historic Scotland was also approached for Grant Aid funding, which was forthcoming due to the location of the building in the Marchmont and Meadows Conservation area and the prominent nature of the historical facade.

Project Details

We were approached by the client during the design process for this build. He required a second opinion on the layout of his new extension that had originally been proposed by another design professional. He wanted to maximise the investment in his home by creating a substantial amount of additional floor space without over-spending. When we considered the current design (carried out by others) we noted that the existing circulation space and perimeter walls were to be retained with a new two-storey extension tacked on the side. However, on closer inspection we realised that this design was not capitalising on the substantial floor areas actually available.

An ingenious solution was devised, doing away with the previous scheme altogether. By removing the rear external wall and side wall and reconfiguring the internal structure, the constrictive existing layout could be opened right up. The staircase was repositioned so that it was centrally located in the new plan, rather than to one side. This meant that all the rooms had direct access into the circulation core of the house without the need for connecting rooms and obstructive existing walls. Furthermore, a lightwell and gallery area were positioned on the first floor to bring light and space into the heart of the house.

In order to balance the elevation externally, the existing front door and canopy were relocated to sit centrally on the new plan. The whole footprint of the new extension is L-shaped in form wrapping around the existing building at the back. This means that the relatively narrow additional area of wall to the front is deceptive in terms of the actual amount of increased space hidden from view. Great care was taken by the contractor to blend the new extension in with the existing building so that it seems like it has always been there. Identical harling and slates were used and the appearance of the windows were improved as traditional profiles were reinstated and hardwood was introduced.