Mossman Houses, Merchiston, Edinburgh

Arcade Architects: Mossman Houses, Merchiston / Morningside, Edinburgh

Mossman Houses, Edinburgh




Arcade Architects
Mossman Houses, 15 Merchiston Mews, Merchiston, Edinburgh
Mews houses for Mr & Mrs R S Mossman

Merchiston, Edinburgh
Mossman House: image from Arcade Architects, Edinburgh

Scottish Design Awards 2003:
Best Domestic Project: Mossman Houses
The Clients had owned three single storey garages in the Mews for a number of years and wanted to retire from the country into the city. They were looking for a pair of new mews houses to replace the garages, to provide a house for themselves and another to let out.

Mews Houses, Edinburgh
Merchiston House: image from Arcade Architects, Edinburgh

The main design move is in the interior cross section so as to maximise the accommodation and create spacious and exciting spaces within this relatively constricted site.

Mossman Houses
Merchiston House: image from Arcade Architects, Edinburgh

The principal living spaces are arranged on split levels under a top lit pitched roof, with bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms and garages lying on the levels below. The building presents an entrance frontage in stone on Merchiston Mews and a rendered frontage to Dorset Place.

Merchiston Houses
Mossman Houses: image from Arcade Architects, Edinburgh

Arcade Architects - Mossman Houses PR 2003

Saltire Society Housing Design Awards 2003 PR Excerpt:

Merchiston Mews, Edinburgh
Commissioner - Mr & Mrs R S Mossman
Architect - Arcade Architects
Builder - Richard Street Ltd

The houses are made from smooth natural stone which forms the principal frontage. The upper floors have french doors opening to metal balconies. The roof structure shows steel beams and principal rafters. Ceilings are lined with birch ply. This overtly tectonic approach is intended to reinforce the sense of security.

RIAS Award 2003: Shortlist - Building PR Excerpt:
Mossman Houses, Edinburgh
Arcade Architects

Summary of judges’ comments:

“The Mossman Houses in Merchiston Mews are an exemplary demonstration of elegant modernity that nevertheless respect and strengthen their low level surroundings.
They cleverly exploit the change in level across the site, placing the living accommodation above to exploit the extra height under the pitched roof, with bedrooms and bathrooms below. Careful choice of materials, clever use of natural light and scrupulous attention to detail able demonstrate how a clever architect can create architecture on a constricted and modest site.”

Architecture Books




Scottish Architecture: best Scottish Buildings of the last three decades
Modern Houses
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Scottish Houses

Scottish Country Houses




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Mossman Houses, Edinburgh : Best Building in Scotland shortlisted in 2003