Helen Lucas Architects have received plannning permission for a new low energy house in rural Midlothian. The house will feature an air source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and solar panels. The building will be clad with lime render, larch boarding and standing seam zinc roofing.

An extension to a lower flatted villa within the Polwarth conservation area is now complete.

The addition provides a new front entrance and hall made from traditional stone. The traditional block to the front intersects with a timber clad building which contains a large living room, study and additional bedroom and cloakroom. The new contemporary living space has a large sliding door which opens across the outside of the building to provide access and views onto the private garden.

Before and after pictures of a cottage on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The house has doubled in size but you could quite easily miss the amount of work that has taken place. Following an extensive refurbishment and extension by Helen Lucas Architects an extra storey has been added to the house as well as a brick porch and a large extension to the rear of the property overlooking the garden.