Harris & Johnston Architects, Edinburgh: A Selection of Our Recent Projects

A Selection of Our Recent Projects

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The following projects were completed over the past year or so. The three jobs vary in character - Dalqueich is a straightforward
conversion of the east wing of a u-shaped former agricultural steading. Additional living accommodation is formed from what was a
garage/workshop; Abercorn Crescent involved extending the roofspace to the south as far as the boundary and converting the existing
attic in conjunction with the new roofspace to provide two room and bathroom accommodation, and Saughtonhall Avenue West is a
new-build comprising semi-detached, three-storey houses.

Dalqueich Steading

In a rural location just west of Kinross, the farm buildings of Dalqueich Steading were converted to a house during the 1990s. The building
is U-shaped in plan with the open side facing south. The original conversion provided living space in the north and west legs, and the east
wing contained substantial storage and a large garage.

Harris & Johnston's brief was to covert this east wing to provide additional habitable space (two apartments, Kitchen and shower room)
which would work in harmony with the existing house and which could also be used independently as Guest accommodation. The design
takes advantage of the fine views to the south and west, with large glazed openings formed in the existing substantial stone walls. During
the construction phase the brief was extended to include a large entrance porch on the north facing wall. Considerable skill and care
were required during the demolition and reinstatement work, ably carried out by contractor R.K. Thomson.

Attic Extension, Abercorn Crescent, Edinburgh

Two previous commissions for Harris and Johnston had
seen front and side entrance porches added to this 1930s
bungalow. Remaining scope for improvement and expansion
was offered by a 3m wide side garden area for a possible
extension, and a large attic space for conversion. Working
through the design process it was decided to (a) convert
the attic and (b) extend the roof over the garden ground out
to the boundary, giving more space to the attic and

simultaneously providing a covered car park.

With sustainability and energy conservation becoming increasingly important, advantage was taken of the scope offered by the new roof
for mounting solar energy panels, To maximise efficiency, these panels are located on the south-facing roof slope and operate with the
hot water storage system. A previous client had had similar panels fitted to their roof and was most impressed at the efficiency of the
installation. We are therefore alert to the possibilities for such provision to be made as part of our future project designs where the
opportunity exists, and where the client wishes to do so.

New Houses, Saughtonhall Avenue West, Edinburgh

The very generous garden of the end house on Saughtonhall Drive offered scope for the erection of a new house being accessed off
Saughtonhall Avenue West. Over several years, Harris and Johnston produced firstly designs for a single storey house, then obtained
Planning Permission for a two-storey block of semi-detached houses.

The new block was slightly smaller in scale than the existing surrounding 1930s housing. It was therefore decided that by modifying the
external form of the block by raising the roof and introducing dormers, the client could obtain semi-detached houses of three storeys.
New Planning Permission and amended Building Warrant were obtained, and this was the scheme which was eventually constructed.

Attic Extensions, Craigmount, Edinburgh

Our initial commission was to undertake a two-bedroom
and en-suite attic conversion to a bungalow of 1930s
design. Having carried out many such jobs over the
years we were able to provide a solution incorporating
dormers to front and rear, with which our clients were

happy. The new neighbours in the adjacent house of

similar design, having moved in during the original Contract, were also impressed with the finished job, and decided to undertake a similar
project. On completion of the second contract, both clients agreed to have roof cleaning/painting treatment carried out, and to paint the
exteriors of the properties the same colour (white) thus the two bungalows sit well together.

Pentland Avenue, Colinton, Edinburgh

This 1930s detached house is built on a sloping south-facing
site. In the opinion of our clients the house fell some way
short of realising its full potential. An existing modest attic
extension of two rooms with roof windows, accessed by a
small utilitarian staircase, hinted at what could be achieved if
measures were taken to enlarge the attic.

In discussion with our clients, a scheme of alterations was
carefully evolved. Works undertaken included the removal of
water tanks and other obstructions, substantially enlarging
the attic floor space to form two good rooms, forming a wide
attractive staircase issuing onto a large first floor hall-space
with a dormer window providing daylight to the centre of the
house and the provision of a 4 meter long balcony with an
outlook over the Pentland Hills to the south.

In addition, internal alterations were undertaken and a side
porch constructed to improve the kitchen area. The design
of the external features of this project; the front dormer, the
rear balcony, and the side porch was carefully considered to
ensure a harmonious blend with the existing house.

Before

After

Calder Road, Craigentinny Avenue and Roull Road, Edinburgh

These projects are similar in content, being house extensions which are particularly intended to match externally the respective existing
houses, both in form and use of finishing materials. The "before", "during", and "after" states of each are well covered by the illustrations.

Sunroom Extension, Charlestown, Fife

Our clients required additional living space and were contemplating the options of either an extension or the installation of a large
conservatory to the front of their house. During the period of evaluation Harris & Johnston was in the midst of a fairly complicated
(difficult to photograph) extension for their daughter at Craiglockhart in Edinburgh. A very efficient, tidy, performance by the builder on
the Craiglockhart contract demonstrated that an extension project could be achieved by using the same team at Charlestown, without
too much upheaval and stress. We were therefore commissioned to design a Sunroom Extension to provide extended living space with
links to the existing living area and kitchen. As with the projects illustrated above, the building materials were chosen to match the
existing. This is particularly successful due to excellent execution of facing-brick walls to the extension, which has been carried into
the garden featuring brick-built raised flower beds as part of the general landscaping.

Sunroom, Old Kirk Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh

Having been involved in providing a two-storey "matching" side extension to this property in 2001, we were approached by our clients
to carry out one further project - a Sunroom on the south-facing rear elevation of their house. Completed in 2006 this project features
substantial glazing on two walls, with a sloping slated roof, incorporating roof windows. In our current experience, initial discussions
with potential clients indicate that this is the general concept of a successful sunroom, Changes to the Buildings Standards in 2007 in
some cases would now reduce the area of permitted glazing, however successful results might still be achieved by imaginative
interpretation of the relevant regulations.

Leadburn, Midlothian

This new house replaces the nineteenth century farmhouse at Gray Brae Farm. Our clients had a fairly fixed idea of the character their
house should achieve, which is essentially traditional in form and materials, having pitched slated roofs, painted roughcast wall finishes,
and artificial stone quoins at openings. We were commissioned to take their ideas along the design process, with design and
technical input from ourselves, through to the finished farmhouse. The house sits well in its site. When proposed landscaping and
paving works are complete, it will be fully in harmony with its rural surroundings.