Helen Lucas Architects are working to transform a 1960s bungalow in the Colinton area, realising a programme of works to rationalise the space for the challenges of modern family living. While almost doubling the floor area, the open nature of the internal scheme will also improve the property’s relationship to its garden.

Furthermore, the works will provide a significant thermal upgrade to the property’s original masonry cavity wall construction, dramatically reducing the home’s energy consumption. A new dormer is insulated with wood fibre and will feature timber cladding articulated with vertical fins between the windows.

We are delighted to have recently received Planning Permission for a project in Trafford, Greater Manchester. The proposed ground floor extension will wrap around the existing semi-detached house, reconfiguring it into a modern family home for our clients. To the front, a discreet covered pend will run past a new bike store through to a sunny courtyard where a new private entrance will lead to flexible living, dining, and kitchen spaces. The extension's form is designed to take advantage of the angled site which widens to the rear, with the plan broken into smaller volumes to minimise its impact and create intimate spaces. 

The design references the traditional red brick houses of the area, with protruding bricks, contrasting banding, and zinc detailing used to offer a contemporary interpretation of the Manchester vernacular.  

Lots of our projects have been continuing on site despite the adversity of this last year and we thought we would show some photographs of work currently in development and nearing completion. Out of a long and bitter winter we are beginning to feel the warmth and welcome the new shoots of spring here in Edinburgh, and the connections to landscape and sunlight which have long been imagined begin to reveal themselves with the turning season.  

We are pleased to announce that our project for Burr’s Garage, Tongue, has been granted planning permission. At the local planning committee the proposal was unanimously granted approval, receiving high praise for an extensive and detailed submission which will provide a world-class attraction and community focused gathering space for locals and visitors alike. Further details of the committee's decision can be found in the Northern Times article here.

Helen Lucas Architects have recently completed a full renovation of a 3-storey townhouse on the picturesque seafront of North Berwick.

Helen Lucas Architects recently hosted a community consultation for a new project in the village of Tongue, North-West Highlands. We found it greatly beneficial to discuss our proposals with the local community and they were enthusiastically received. The proposals seek to renew and add to an existing garage, shop and shed buildings formed around an enhanced ‘mercat’ street. We will be providing a new shop with fuel pumps, a restaurant, flexible pop-up shop area, event space, accommodation for tourists and a business start-up unit envisioned to house a microbrewery.

We’re pleased to announce that planning has been granted for our renovation project in Culross, Fife. The proposal is for the extensive refurbishment of an existing 1960’s detached house, set within the environs of the historic Culross Abbey. New cladding materials help to both sustainably improve the external insulation and bed the building into it’s woodland surroundings. A carefully considered extension and internal alterations also combine to help open up much enhanced living spaces to the marvellous views across the Firth of Forth. 

Helen Lucas Architects have recently been awarded planning for a new project in Midlothian. This renovation of an old agricultural steading provides a contemporary studio space for the clients, replacing the existing roof to better integrate the steading within the context of the surrounding modernist influenced house. The proposals also include sustainable insulation improvements to the existing building fabric.

HLA have recently been awarded planning for a new project in Edinburgh's Grange conservation area. The garden extension acts to bring more light into the building, creating a bright and contemporary living space with strong connections to the garden.  Clad in zinc, it is markedly contemporary whilst also being complimentary to the existing sandstone villa.

Stripping back the historic layers and piercing the gloom; bringing new life to a New Town flat. 

Helen Lucas Architects’ project for Ingleby Gallery at the Glasite Meeting House has been featured in the latest issue of the Magazine of The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Written by architectural assistant to the project Cal Harris, the feature charts the historic development of the Glasite Meeting House and details the recent conversion into a dynamic, versatile platform for contemporary art.

The full article can be read here (.pdf).

Links to information regarding membership to AHSS can be found here .

The renovation and extension of the house on the shores of Loch Linnhe is now nearing completion. Work comprised an extensive refurbishment of the original house interior and wood fibre insulation wrap to the exterior, set against contemporary timber and zinc clad extensions. These create extensive new living areas and capture the breathtaking views across the landscape. 

HLA are delighted to have received planning permission for a large family home in the Scottish Borders. The property is currently a ruin, having served as a farm house and stable block until the 1930's. The new home will feature an indoor pool, private sheltered courtyard garden, and will focus on views across the surrounding landscape.

We are delighted to announce that works at Bread Street are almost complete. Keep your eyes peeled for The Fat Pony, a new wine bar opening to the public in the very near future. Almost all of the elements in the bar are bespoke and crafted locally; from the Douglas Fir shuttering and mild steel detailing, to the fabric panelling and folded metal light fittings . The Fat Pony will offer a unique selection of wines, charcuterie, small plates and more.

Images of the completed project can be found here.

The renovation and extension of this house in Merchiston, Edinburgh is now nearing compeltion. Work has included the formation of new zinc clad extensions to the rear of the house, as well as extensive Lithomex stone repairs, which beautifully match the original building fabric.

HLA are delighted to have received Planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the renovation and change of use of a C-listed mews house in the Dean Conservation Area, Edinburgh.

The dilapidated garage space is to be insulated and converted into a spacious one-bed home. A new opening to the rear reveals the stunning backdrop of the Dean Village and Water of Leith.

Originally designed as a row of stables in the late 19th Century, our proposal strives to retain the character of the original timber coach doors. A contemporary adaptation of the street elevation provides clerestory light, a hidden window concealed by a shutter, and a new place to sit and enjoy the sun.

HLA were pleased to attend the formal opening of new practice rooms at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland yesterday. The new practice rooms have already proved popular, and initial feedback from staff and students has been very positive.

HLA have very much enjoyed working with the Royal Conservatoire and the project team and hope that their new Creative Campus is an asset to this lively and thriving institution.

The opening has been covered by both the BBC and The Herald.

Helen Lucas Architects have now moved in to newly refurbished offices at 31-35 Marchmont Road.

We are very happy with the latest stair installation at our project in Dollar, Clackmannanshire. The continuous handrail and dark treads contrast with the decoration, and the post-less construction allows the light to flood into the newly formed space through spindle balusters.

Edinburgh based Helen Lucas Architects have produced a computer model of a proposal in the London Borough of Richmond. A series of small additions are proposed to a Grade II Listed house.

The priorities are to increase the natural light and flow of spaces in this historic property that was badly bombed during the war. The high quality materials specified can be seen in this computer generated image produced at HLA. Painted brickwork, zinc roofing and large areas of glazing continue the palette and details established by the main house.

Helen Lucas Architects are able to produce computer generated or physical cardboardmodels as a design tool or representation of a proposed scheme for their clients.

Other model photos and renderings can be found by filtering news stories by computer model and model

Progress photographs of a loft conversion that almost doubles the floor area to a stone bungalow in the Greenbank area of Edinburgh.

This under utilised loft space has been floored and extensively insulated to form a bedroom and ensuite with generous headroom and lots of natural light. The loft conversion is part of a larger refurbishment scheme that adds a substantial extension to the rear of the property.

This top lit oak staircase twists through a void created between the existing gatehouse and new extension at Grange Loan.

The double curved handrail was handmade by a Fife based joiner whom Helen Lucas Architects regularly collaborate with. A blacksmith fitted the mild steel rods and welded a steel ribbon to the the top of them. The oak handrail which curves in two directions was made to match and forms a sweeping curve between the levels. The oak treads have scored nosings for slip resistance and the whole staircase was finished with a hardwax oil to enhance the natural beauty of the wood.

View more images of the completed project to the Grange Loan Gatehouse >

Architects from Helen Lucas Architects were on hand at Edinburgh's Ingleby Gallery to give behind the scenes tours of areas of the gallery that are usually closed to the general public.

Helen Lucas Architects created the gallery in the building that formerly housed The Venue, an infamous nightclub on Calton Road. A dramatic new staircase has been introduced between the floors giving a discreet, hidden and beautiful route between the three floors of the building.

See more details of this project >

The extension to the listed gate house is now complete. The timber clad extension with a butterfly roof has doubled the floor space in this efficiently designed extension.

The Clients used local materials where possible inside and out. The western red cedar used to clad the building was sourced from the Knoydart Peninsula from trees toppled during last years storms.

The construction of a stoneclad, single storey garden room extension is completed at Moston Terrace, Edinburgh. The garden room extension element of the ground floor extension and refurbishment of this family home is completed.

The stoneclad exterior and timber framed windows sit comfortably with the existing house while maintaining the sleek language of a modern extension.

View more garden rooms >

The extension to a small listed home in Edinburgh is moving at a fast pace After a little over a month on site the form of this contemporary extension is plainly visible. This is a major advantage of using timber frame construction.

Timber frame extension starts on site at Dick Place, Edinburgh. Progress has been fast in the first few weeks on site with this timber frame extension which will double the footprint of the original gatehouse.

Designed to be as passively energy efficient as possible, this project is an exciting one to watch.

A window with a great view over central Edinburgh is installed at Hartington Gardens.

A sliding, folding window is installed permitting panoramic views across Edinburgh from a modern third floor extension and refurbishment. The window is pushed beyond the building envelope allowing spectacular 180 views over the surrounding rooftop

View the completed project >

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Renovated and refurbished Maids quarters create light and contemporary living space in Edinburgh.

Existing Maids rooms were refurbished with new, larger windows added, creating a modern feel and flooding the rooms with natural light. The existing plan was opened up to give more generous living areas and comfortable circulation to the large Edinburgh home. The surrounding garden was also smoothed into a split level lawn paving aiding the houses engagement with the garden.

Before and after pictures of the staircase at Dunbeg House, near Fort William.

The existing servants staircase to the basement was cramped and dark. The client wanted to make the lower ground floor of the property feel like part of the house.

The link between the floors has been greatly improved by the removal of a partition wall to enhance visibilty and sense of space on the staircase. The details of the stair have been merticulously matched to those elsewhere in the property. The client used skilled craftsmen to match the wood panneling, spindles and plasterwork incuding the newel post at the bottom of the staircase which was hand carved from Oak.

Helen Lucas Architects oversaw the extensive redevelopment of this Listed Property situated on the banks of Loch Leven.

View more posts on this property >

Simple Shepherd's Cottage transformed into generous family home in the Highlands.

A contemporary, light extension to a small original cottage creates comfortable, airy living spaces with spectacular views out to the hills.

A wind turbine is sat distanced from the house and solar panels have installed on the south facing roof. This project was recently completed and featured in this month's Grand Designs Magazine.

View photographs of the completed project >

Works to this listed gatehouse, situated in the Grange area of Edinburgh have been completed.

After the long planning process where permission was granted by the planning comittee in 2006 the construction stages have run smoothly.

The new building and refurbishment of the old gatehouse demostrate excellent workmanship by the contractor Braidwood Building.

More details of the completed project >

Work has finished on the Grade B listed Dunbeg House on the Banks of Loch Leven.

Extensive conservation work has been done to Dunbeg, including a new stair down to the basement to match the existing grand stair, new kitchen, the insulation of internal walls and the addition of ensuite bathrooms to the bedrooms.

Our particular favourite bits include the new barbecue deck, perched on a rocky outcrop above the loch, and the new top floor artists studio.

View more posts on this property >

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.

A listed building in The Grange area of Edinburgh has been restored.  Helen Lucas Architects have completed the re-instatement of a villa in Greenhill Gardens which had been split into upper and lower dwellings in the 1930s. A new staircase to re-connect the house a contemporary garden room and garage extensions complement the historic villa.

Shape of new house is revealed by the timber frame. The timber frame has revealed the form of the new house which is currently on site in North Berwick.

Our clients, who are based in Edinburgh, initially approached us to refurbish the property they had acquired overlooking the sea at North Berwick. After carefully considering refurbishment options and getting them priced it became clear that in this instance a new building was a sensible solution for this site. 20 VAT on the refurbishment costs become zero on a new build and our clients decided to change course and invest the 20 saving in gaining a bespoke, energy efficient house.

Planning permission was granted for the rebuilding of a new, greener house, more suited to the clients needs. They are looking forward to moving to this beautiful part of the coast when the project is complete.

View the completed project >

This classic Edinburgh bungalow gained planning permission for a large rear extension in June.

The project started on site in September and the timber framed extension is starting to take shape. The extension benefits from very large sliding doors to maximise the daylight and views.

A loft conversion is taking place in conjunction with these works and progress can be seen in a separate post.

An aerial photograph of the extension in North Berwick gives a plan view of the proposal. The foundations have been dug for this garden room to a listed cottage set one street back from the seafront. The scaffold from which this photograph was taken has a wonderful view looking out to the islands of East Lothian.