Michael
Laird Architects
Offices, off Lothian Road, 2004-
image from
Michael Laird Architects
Received planning permission 12 Oct 2005
Text from Michael Laird Architects Jan 2005
The development involves the demolition of the 1 / 2 storey, rendered
building between Semple Street and west wall of Lothian House as well
as the retention of the listed façade onto Fountainbridge / Semple
Street whilst the building behind is removed.
Premier Property
Group Building, painting by Andrew Taylor
The basement under the site will be reformed and provide plantroom space
for the retail and office above, as well as 6No. parking spaces accessed
from the lane.
Existing
site, image from Michael Laird Architects
The ground floor is designed to create approximately 9500sqft of retail
space either as a whole linking Lothian Road and Semple Street, or divided
into smaller units. The escape routes from the ground floor retail and
the Jeffreys store will be retained via the courtyard and pend onto Fountainbridge.
New Offices,
image from Michael Laird Architects
Five floors of open plan office space are accessed for a main reception
on Semple Street.
The Semple Street elevation responds sympathetically to the listed façade
in its height, proportions of floor heights and materials. The use of
off-white smooth precast panels is in the same language as the traditional
surrounding stone buildings. At the north end of the elevation the entrance
and adjacent stairwell provide an end for the main façade and again
respond to the height of the adjacent Excel House building. The ground
floor treatment of glazing and stainless steel panels (and retained black
granite) continues under the retained façade around onto Fountainbridge
providing a unifying element that is both inviting and low maintenance.
The elevation onto the lane is more robust with dark grey brick used as
a hard wearing base which then becomes a vertical element enclosing the
north service core. Both north and south cores have been positioned to
maximize light into the office space from east, west and south elevations.
The rear elevation is a more lightweight façade of curtain walling
with a large proportion of opaque and coloured glazing to allow light
into the office space but respect the privacy of the residential apartments
in Lothian House. The formation of a private landscaped garden also improves
the outlook from both office and flats.
The fifth floor is designed to avoid encroaching the retained façade
line and is a lightweight glazed 'box' that steps back from the front
and rear facades.
Semple Street - Michael Laird Architects - Building PR 11 Jan 2005
Adjacent Buildings include Edinburgh
Quay & Bett Properties
Lochrin Project both by Michael Laird Architects - and Scottish
Widows; to the West are Fountain
Park, Fountain North and
the City Travel Inn
Scottish
Architecture
Edinburgh Walking
Tours
Excel
House - Offices, Semple St, off Lothian Road, Edinburgh 2001
Excel House:
exterior, from Michael Laird Architects
Other Edinburgh offices
by Michael Laird Architects include Standard
Life at Tanfield, Standard Life
Lothian Road and Standard Life
George Street
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