Architect, Urban Designer, & Director
Saltire Society Housing Design Awards – Multiple Dwelling (Commendation), Scottish Home Awards 2016 – Development of the Year (Age Exclusive), Planning & Placemaking Awards 2016 – Regional Award Scotland (Commendation), Home for Scotland Awards 2016 – Affordable Housing Category (Special Commendation)
In helping Places for People develop this housing for older people, we designed flexible accommodation that can adapt over time, within a calm and friendly environment. To address the needs of an aging population in housing requires consideration of a wide range of people with differing lifestyles and health support requirements. This project specifically called for flexibility of use that would allow people who may develop dementia to remain in their own home for as long as possible.
The site design creates a new urban edge to Moredun Park, with path connections formed to encourage greater use of this public space, and buildings laid out to take advantage of south facing views.
The flats have been more generously planned out than typically, to help residents who may use mobility aids. Glazed doors and the colour choices of internal finishes help with orientation inside the dwellings. The common stairs include room for stair lifts, and integrated scooter storage is provided to assist residents with remaining as mobile as possible.
The external finishes are a mix of warm colours including subtly different bricks and a bright orange render. These finishes, in conjunction with the site planting, gardens, shared garden room and local greenspace, help create a calm and friendly environment for older people to live within.
