Belford Road

At the heart of the project is the restored and refurbished Douglas House on Belford Road. The former Edwardian coach house has been restored and refurbished to house 2- and 3-bedroom apartments and a stunning 4-bed penthouse.

Although not a listed building, the existing façade of Douglas House was found in good condition and has been fully retained. The windows have been restored to their original styles and proportions and where possible, materials such as stone and slate have been re-used.

The restoration of this iconic building is part of a larger development in the UNESCO world heritage site of Dean Village, Edinburgh. Further residential accommodation is provided in the new build apartments and townhouses which replace the previous inefficient and inflexible office buildings.

Although the intention was always to repurpose this area as residential properties, there were numerous planning iterations over the preceding decade. A complex and bespoke city centre project, historic archways, bridges and facades were all part of the design consideration. With MLA specialising in unique, urban refurbishment projects, a solution was found which worked for the client and the surrounding area.

Health and wellbeing were a key driver in the development. For the townhouses, air source heat pumps provide the whole domestic water supply. And all apartments have MVHR units within them to improve indoor air quality and mitigate air pollutants.

Sustainability was also an important aspect of the design. Recyclable materials e.g. brick, aluminium, stone have been used throughout. Everything can be re-used or recycled at a future date. And heat efficiency has been prioritised with airtight buildings and high levels of insulation.

The work transforms the site, significantly increasing the residential offer, and bringing this part of a historic area back to life.