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arthouse

a cultural new community sparking regeneration in edinburgh

This highly sustainable mixed-use residential scheme in Canonmills, Edinburgh aims to breathe new life into the area, providing over 200 new Build to Rent homes with 25% affordable, spaces for local community and creative businesses and significant public realm.

Arthouse is a bold and stylish, low embodied carbon building reflecting Edinburgh’s industrious heritage. Through the proposed mix of uses, including living, creative, community and public realm, it is intended that the development will act as a catalyst for wider regeneration in the area, providing a framework for future community and creative growth of the area, while maintaining existing employment, services, and facilities for the local community. Once complete Arthouse will be home to 350 people and 30-40 creative businesses.

Client:

HUB + Bridges Fund Management

Location:

Edinburgh

Size:

  • non-living accommodation floor space – 1,820m2
  • living accommodation floor space – 16,757m2
  • private open space – 1,666m2
  • public open space – 528m2

Status:

Planning consent granted

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shedkm’s first scheme in scotland

Arthouse lies in the Canonmills area, approximately one mile to the north of Edinburgh City Centre, providing prime access to the city centre and local amenities. The scheme is shedkm’s first of its kind outside of England. The design will be developed to complement the local area while also considering the quality of the internal accommodation.

The scheme provides an opportunity to consider how the whole Canonmills area comes together as a wider regeneration piece. The site, sitting on the axis of key routes east to west and north to south, places Arthouse as a crucial piece of the emerging neighbourhood. The proposed development will contribute to Edinburgh’s strong, responsive, ethical, and competitive economy. It will generate 185 direct and indirect employment opportunities during construction, and the new homes created will generate an estimated c£1.8 million per annum on leisure goods and services. The provision of workspace at ground floor will help drive footfall to the area and drive future investment and regeneration in the area.

an outdated 1970s warehouse replaced with a contemporary scheme

The existing 1970s red brick factory, which currently contributes little to the streetscape or architectural richness of the neighbourhood, will be replaced with a modern, unique building. Arthouse will remain a hub for the celebrated local creative community while creating over 200 much needed new homes to the area, with 52 affordable. These will be ‘tenure-blind’ homes for all ages and will exceed current Scottish sustainability regulations.

a collaborative design process

The design process, led by shedkm with MRG Studio, Atelier Ten and Civic Engineers, involves regular consultation with the City of Edinburgh Council and the local community, to create an appropriate and dynamic place.

Arthouse will offer a mix of over 200 studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, co-working space, lounge and leisure areas and a large roof terrace. This amenity space has been carefully designed to provide a mixture of public and private space for both the community and residents. The ground floor will provide a mixture of residents’ amenity space and commercial space. Active frontage is provided all along Beaverhall Road with creative workshop space, an animated makers’ yard, and a fitness unit.

Residents can enjoy further enclosed courtyards, which each refer to one aspect of the area’s industrial heritage including cooperages, tanneries, and mills. Upper-level roofs are proposed as extensive green roofs, comprising valuable habitats for local wildlife. Many apartments also have access to a private balcony and are dual aspect.

It is designed with a limited palette of high-quality robust materials including brick, profiled metal, and generous glazing. Roof articulation brings playfulness to the scheme and a red metal sleeve, column and window frames feature throughout, with red accents also proposed at the pend passageway, the main entrance, and fitness unit.

low carbon homes

Sustainability and low carbon performance is a fundamental aspect of Arthouse, which regenerates a brownfield site. A principal objective of the zero-carbon ready development is the creation of low carbon homes that deliver healthy and productive living environments that will allow people to live greener lifestyles.

To minimise the energy consumption and associated carbon emissions of the development, passive design measures have been implemented to maximise the opportunity for daylight, natural ventilation, and passive solar heat gain. A key aspect of the energy strategy is the application of a community heating scheme with Air Source Heat Pumps as the heat generator. The development has a biodiversity net gain and will also address the wider aspects of sustainability including reduction of embodied carbon through the specification of low carbon and responsibly sourced materials.

innovation
regeneration
transformation

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