Shaws Place
Heritage | Residential
Sustainable Upgrade, Fabric Repairs
Private
Pilrig Colonies, Edinburgh
Service
Client Location
Project Background
The Category B listed refurbishment of a two storey terrace in Edinburgh stands as a testament to a unique era, where philanthropic venture broke tradition to provide every flat with their own front door and garden. This early model housing at the Pirlig Colonies is one of the earliest examples of this type of housing in Edinburgh.
Over the years the building had been adapted leading to an awkwardly positioned first floor kitchen and underused circulation space. Externally the roof required overhaul, leaking rooflights needed replacing, windows and doors were past their life and the stonework was in need of repairs.
Client’s Brief and Our Approach
Our client sought to transform their unused attic into additional living accommodation, relocate the kitchen and dining areas to the ground floor, and upgrade the house to modern living standards. To maximise headroom in the attic, the roof ties and floor level were lowered, and a new first floor timber staircase was introduced. Where finishes were removed during alterations, the exposed stone was carefully repointed and expressed as the final finish, celebrating the building’s character while integrating the new works.
The Result
The project provided the opportunity to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort by improving the fabric performance of the roof and external walls with the addition of insulation and upgrading the windows to double glazed.
These interventions maximised usable space and enhanced comfort, while preserving the character of this historic property.