South Gyle Houses, E&F McLachlan Architects, Photos, Design, Competition

Housing at South Gyle, Edinburgh : Property

South Gyle Housing, Edinburgh Park for Horizon Housing Association

South Gyle Houses

The South Gyle project resulted from an invited competition, won in March 1995. The development was the first in Edinburgh by Horizon Housing Association, whose particular interest lies in developments which include a proportion of wheelchair standard houses.

There are 27 units in total at the South Gyle, varying from 2 person elderly amenity flats to 5 person apartments, and incorporating 6 wheelchair standard units.

South Gyle Housing – wide shot: Keith Hunter Photography

A prime requirement of the brief was the integration of wheelchair and mainstream units. Various “barrier free” measures have been adopted (eg no
external steps, all ground floor properties accessible to wheelchair users, stairs comprising low pitch single flights).

The South Gyle housing encloses an informal square, intended as a social focus – a place overlooked by the residents to encourage a feeling of safety, a visual focus to enhance views from the living areas of the flats (which have glazed bays overlooking the space), and an open area adjacent to various pedestrian routes across the site to allow residents to meet on ‘neutral’ ground.

South Gyle Housing bay detail: Paul Zanre

The projecting bay is a major element in the design as it repeats in a variety of scales and locations around the central court, helping to unify the accommodation’s nine different house types. It establishes a link between the interior and exterior, and is also a device to blur the distinction between the various roof heights. The irregularity of the eaves heights is intended to mask the distinction between the wheelchair standard properties (which are all one storey) and the remainder of the accommodation.

E&F McLachlan Architects – South Gyle housing information received 2003

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Another ef”>E & F McLachlan Architects project in Edinburgh is the
Holyrood Housing for Old Town Housing Association

South Gyle – Buildings

Alexander Graham Bell House

photograph © Keith Hunter