Greyfriars Community Project, Grassmarket Building Image, Edinburgh Architecture Design

Candlemaker Row Edinburgh

Scottish Architecture Competition : Architects Shortlist

3 Jun 2011

Duchess of Cornwall visits Grassmarket Homeless Projects

Design: Gareth Hoskins Architects

Address: 84 – 92 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh

Greyfriars Community Project

On 1 June 2011, as part of a current tour of Scotland, HRH, the Duchess of Cornwall visited some of the Grassmarket Community Projects in Edinburgh’s Old Town. The projects were set up with the aim of helping homeless adults by offering education programmes, drop-in services and other activities such as cookery, gardening and woodwork.

image : Gareth Hoskins Architects

After visiting the projects in action, the Duchess spoke to architects, Gareth Hoskins and Donald Simpson of Gareth Hoskins Architects about their proposals for the new two storey extension that will house the various activities and services. The accommodation will wrap around a naturally ventilated community hall that can be rented out to provide extra income, and the woodwork shop run by the Kirk will be producing elements of the interior such as timber wall panels, the reception desk and furniture. A ground source heat pump is to be installed to provide the heating.

Planning permission for the new project was granted in March 2011 and building work is due to start on-site early next year.

Client: Greyfriars Kirk
Architect: Gareth Hoskins Architects

Greyfriars Community Project image / infoormation from Gareth Hoskins Architects

Candlemaker Row

Greyfriars Approved
Candlemaker Row project by Gareth Hoskins Architects gains planning
84 – 92 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh
Mixed-use development incorporating canteen, kitchen, workshop, community hall, offices, 13 residential units
For Hillcrest Housing Association
Application received 21/08/06
Full Planning Application Approved 26/06/07

Greyfriars Community Project
Winner: Gareth Hoskins Architects
Shortlist included Gareth Hoskins, Sutherland Hussey, Duffy & Batt, Lee Boyd, Matthew Williams

Winner selected Dec 15 2004

Gareth Hoskins Architects – Building information Jan 2005

Greyfriars Kirkhouse Redevelopment

GREYFRIARS COMMUNITY PROJECT, EDINBURGH

Following an invited competition, Gareth Hoskins Architects have been commissioned to prepare a feasibility study for the redevelopment of the Greyfriars Kirkhouse in Edinburgh’s Old Town. The joint venture between Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh City Council and Hillcrest Housing Association aims to develop a community facility that will support the homeless and disadvantaged in Edinburgh.

The proposals will focus on the continued provision and development of the site, which has long been a centre for charities and initiatives providing support services to help the homeless integrate back into the wider community. The project, at a proposed cost of £2m, will incorporate consultation rooms; training spaces to encourage and develop skills in IT, woodwork, home-making, arts and crafts; plus a public café and shop. It is also the intention to create 16 supported flats within the development.

Gareth Hoskins Architects – Greyfriars Community Project: Building information 10 Jan 2005

Duffy & Batt: scheme

image courtesy of architects

Candlemaker Row description by one of the shortlisted architects, Duffy & Batt Architects:

The scheme illustrated has community facilities over ground and basement floors, a series of flexible but intimate spaces opening on to a dynamic winter garden. Apartments are contained in two separate elements hovering above and split by a vertical extrusion of the winter garden/core adding further amenity.

The linear gushet range addresses the cemetery-not unlike our Gallery Apartments scheme of ’99-extolling the romantic vernacular. The other bridges to the adjoining tenement jumping up to contextually marry. A link is formed to the Kirk via a rediscovered route bringing the body of the Kirk into the heart of the project, historically the most important access to the City from the Kirk per Gordon of Rothiemay’s plan of 1647.

Related Duffy & Batt scheme:

building image from Duffy & Batt