Village View Residential

At the heart of the project is the renovated 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 architecture, a solution was found which worked for the client and the surrounding area.

Sustainability was 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. Heat efficiency has been prioritised with airtight buildings and high levels of insulation. Most apartments have an allocated parking space in a secure underground car park with an EV charger point that can be activated if required. And all apartments have MVHR units within them to improve indoor air quality and mitigate air pollutants.

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