Date: 25 April 08
Author: Caroline Ednie, Web Editor
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The Cowgate is one of the few locations within Edinburgh where it is possible to conceive of buildings of some considerable height. Examples of both 19th and 20th Century buildings of up to nine storeys already exist in this area.
The design for Cowgate Social Housing makes three distinct roofed buildings of decreasing height from west to east. A nine storey building, on the corner of Old Fishmarket Close and the Cowgate, responds to the immediacy of the High Court building and nearby student housing. A middle tower rises to seven floors, with a distinct mono-pitched roof which slopes in such a manner as to allow light past it into the Tron Square. To the east, a five storey wing acts as a 'bookend' to the entire development. In between these three towers are two flat roof sections each containing roof gardens. In this way the development is broken down into the appearance of three individual buildings.
The bulk of the development south of Tron Square is four storeys high with office accommodation existing on the lower two floors and housing on the two floors above – creating 35 units in total. The roof of the four storey block is devoted to three gardens. There are two private gardens to maisonettes at the eastern end of the development and one communal garden, accessible to all the residents in the eastern-most common stair.
Materials include rendered elevations with timber farmed windows; slate pitched roofs; and single ply with pre-cast paving slabs to the flat roofs/terraces.
Project: Cowgate Social Housing
Architect: Richard Murphy Architects
Client: Castle Rock Housing Association
Location: Edinburgh
Contractor: Hart Builders (Edinburgh) Ltd.
Cost: £3.4 million
Link: www.richardmurphyarchitects.com
Images: Richard Murphy Architects
