We are delighted to have received Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for the renovation of a large warehouse building on Constitution Street in Leith. 

The project looks to renovate the existing building as workshop for framing and crating and office space, for a local art gallery. The thermal performance of the building is to be upgraded and accessibility improved with a new staircase and lift core. The installation of a new lift will also allow the delivery and movement of large items.

It has been fascinating to research the history of the building, which has gone through a number of uses, including a wireworks, cooperage, car mechanic’s and even at one stage a Masonic lodge.

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.  

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

Helen Lucas Architects had an inspiring and fascinating day at Historic Environment Scotland's Engine Shed on 'Conservation Ethics and Approaches'. The keynote lecture was by Caitlin DeSilvey, exploring the philosophy of managed decay and material change and letting historic buildings 'be'. Her book, 'Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving' by The University of Minnesota Press, is a thought-provoking and provocative read. 

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 .

HLA are pleased to announce that planning permission has been granted for the river garden project at Auchincruive Estate, South Ayrshire for the charity Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland.

This ambitious project sees the creation of a residential training and social enterprise development centre for people in the early stages of recovery from addiction. The gardens provide a beautiful public destination, which is planned to include cafe, plant nursery, shop and a number of other social enterprises. Residential accommodation is also provided for up to thirty long term residents.

HLA have very much enjoyed working with IFDAS on the first stage, and look forward to seeing the River Garden project grow and flourish.

HLA are delighted to have received Planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the renovation and extension of a B-listed Victorian villa in the Merchiston and Greenhill Conservation Area. Extending into an unused existing void space, the proposal strives to reorganise the villa to adapt to the needs of modern living; a generous kitchen-dining space overlooks the leafy front garden, whilst new decking and openings accentuate the relationship between the house and the redesigned rear garden.

A quadripartite window to the front elevation is composed to match the existing fenestration; the verticality and generous proportions are a contemporary articulation of the original early Victorian facade.

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 revisit our project at Woodhall Road, Edinburgh 18 months after practical completion. The garden-room features a postless corner, allowing open views and access to the adjacent garden.

Stonework is nearing completion at our garden room extension at a C-listed house in Colinton, Edinburgh. With wide, postless-corner glazing, this space will provide fantastic views across the adjacent garden.

The rooflight of an extension to an A listed garden flat in The New Town Conservation Area was installed this week. It provides a fantastic source of light into the new family dining area. 

This listed gatehouse was completed two years ago.  Our phographer has been back to photograph it now the cladding has weathered and the garden has matured.  More details of the project at Grange Loan can be seen on our main website.

Work to an upper villa in Duddingston Conservation area is now complete.  The scheme has linked the upper apartment with a new ground floor extension which opens onto the garden with a view of Arthur's Seat.

We have recently completed an extension to a house on a corner within the Portobello conservation area.

Grange Loan has been awarded a commendation in the Alterations, Renovation and Extension category of the Saltire Society Housing Awards.

Our recently completed project at Grange Loan has recieved a commendation at the Saltire Awards.

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 >

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.

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.

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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.

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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.