Construction is well under way on this contemporary development
Construction has started on Allan Murray Architects proposals for the former Craigmillar Primary School site in Edinburgh. The proposals provide an attractive mix of contemporary social housing types, set within a ‘HomeZone’ landscape, and represent their successful working relationship with the Client ‘Places for People’ established during the development process.
The design proposals aim to reconcile the existing weak urban environment by creating stronger defined building edges, reinforcing the street edge whilst also reconciling the geometry of the remainder of the site around the school building itself.
The school’s axial geometry has been ‘book-ended’ with three storey buildings tightening up the open space on the site’s southern edge, yet leaving the school on axis as a significant building and of importance to the community, The proposals promote the concept of the ‘street’ and create a series of new public spaces and private gardens.
The Craigmillar development also represents Allan Murray Architects commitment to sustainable design and environmental issues. A rigourous strategy of passive energy saving measures has been adopted, with the development forecast to reduce CO2 emissions by 27% compared to Scottish Building Regulation requirements. The design is also being developed to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating on the BREEAM EcoHomes Assessment.
In addition to the proposals for the primary school site, Allan Murray Architects have also investigated a development strategy for the provision of future housing on neighbouring sites, thus integrating the proposals with the wider urban context of Craigmillar and the Parc Development.
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