17 Royal Terrace Mews, Edinburgh

This former 1820's stable and hayloft, unlike many Edinburgh mews properties, had not yet been converted to residential use when we were commissioned to convert it into a one bedroom flat for rent. Our conversion is meant to express the idea of a new house found within the repaired shell of the existing stable so that the history of the building is expressed, particularly on the front facade.

To obtain planning permission a garage was required so the majority of living accommodation is found at first floor level. To accommodate this the original first floor level was lowered and this is expressed, on the front elevation, in a steel channel which also forms the runner for the garage door. The asymmetrical planar language of the new architecture finds expression in panels of glass block and lead on this facade, the latter appearing to form an inner skin behind the stone but in reality dressed into either shadow gaps or mirrors. Internally the lead masks two internal panels which close the whole front facade at night.

Internally the flat is a continual space culminating in a bedroom, the spaces distributed around the path of the sun which is admitted through a dramatic ridge roof light. This single act brings all the necessary extra light into the property while still maintaining the integrity of the uninterrupted slate roofs. Internally mirrors are placed under the ridge to extend the space laterally and to throw light around the room in opposition to the path of the sun. Much of the furniture, including wardrobes, desk and even the bed were designed as part of the commission.

The house was completed in 1995.