New Build Riverbank House, East Lothian

Located on a river bank between a road bridge and a railway bridge in East Lothian, this new house replaces a series of ramshackle old joinery workshops and timber stores. 

The river bank required cleaning of asbestos and other debris before work could commence. 

The house massing was generated through 3-d modelling and solar plotting to maximise daylight to the main living spaces whilst also ensuring certain spaces maintained an element of overshadowing and privacy. 

The property is constructed off piled foundations and ground beams to ensure a stable platform so close to the river.

The first floor step back also maintains a view from the road bridge of the listed buildings behind. 

The living space glazing facing the river and bridge, can be slid open to reveal a columnless open corner. This space in turn leads onto the existing decking which surrounds the property. The decking and raised ground floor level ensure the property is above the 1:200 year anticipated flood height of the river. 

Recycled railway sleepers are used in ground retention and as an attractive landscaping feature. 

The property is clad in European Larch with four differing board widths, overhangs, setbacks and feature framing around the glazing. 

A sedum roof above the kitchen/ lounge/ dining room provides an environmentally friendly roof cladding as well as an attractive foreground to views of the bridge from the master bedroom.

Completed on site in 2021.