February 24 2020

Kiltane Developments have brought forward plans to replace warehousing with 217 student beds and 59 residential apartments on a backlands site off Edinburgh’s Gorgie Road.

Accessible from the ground-floor of the current ELS House, which will be refitted to serve as an entrance and amenity space for new build accommodation to the immediate south designed by Susan Stephen Architects.

Following the template established by the current building, it is intended to continue its scale and massing to create an urban edge along the Water of Leith while accommodating a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists.

In a statement, the architect wrote: “Analysis of the local area revealed no clear architectural style, and as such we have selected a red multi-stock brick and bronzed cladding to provide a warm addition to the area.



“Projecting brickwork detailing to the lower levels will provide subtle texture to the elevations, reflecting the tradition of less regular materials to the lower levels of residential buildings.



“Fenestration has been offset as a playful response to the rigidity of ELS House.”



Finished in red multi-stock brock with bronze cladding and fretted metal screens for ventilation the scheme is split between two blocks of distinct accommodation with the upper floor of the student apartments ‘peeled back’ to provide an accessible terrace.