Mixed Use, Residential and Office Development, Leith Citadel, Edinburgh

Jefcoate Anderson Architects Ltd was appointed as architects by a developer and contractor client for the refurbishment and conversion of a Grade B listed church and school building located on the site of the historic Leith Citadel.

The internals of the building, which in recent years had been used as a nightclub, had been completely destroyed by fire leaving just the stone shell and towers standing.

Our proposal was to insert a new 4 storey steel frame structure within the existing walls, with accommodation arranged around a central atrium day lit from above and via the newly glazed main facade tracery. The spiral stone stairs within the steeple towers have been retained and refurbished and serve office mezzanine levels.  At upper residential levels the towers house circular kitchens, snugs and studies. Clad in zinc and glass, the top two storeys comprise a spacious split level, four storey apartment with access to roof terraces.

The project was split into two phases:

Phase 1 comprised the refurbishment of 40 Commercial Street to form four individual office suites totalling 4420 square feet.
Phase 2 comprised three individual office suites totalling 3550 square feet and four apartments varying in size from two to four bedrooms.

Phasing the project allowed Phase 1 to proceed while archaeological investigations were carried out prior to permission being granted by Historic Scotland to begin the Phase 2 works.