The University of Edinburgh have long provided a wide range of student accommodation types and price points and are currently catering for 9200 students from 110 countries. The University understands that students have varying accommodation requirements and budgets and is continually reshaping their accommodation portfolio to reflect this. JM Architects have been working with colleges and universities across the UK for many years and we know that accommodation plays a key role in student development both academically and socially, and that variety, identity and affordability is very important.
Our previous development with the University was at Holyrood Northwhich featured a range of accommodation types including a unique self-catered Residence Hall where 480 students cook, dine and socialise together, a UK first. The Buccleuch Place and Meadow Laneproject provides more world-class accommodation for students but in a very different format to the Holyrood residence hall model.
The project provides post-graduate student accommodation across thirteen refurbished Grade ‘B’ listed Georgian townhouses. The two blocks fronting Buccleuch Place were originally built in the 1780’s as housing but had been in use as University office space prior to the development.Brownfield land behind the townhouses has been developed to provide purpose-built student accommodation, forming a new built edge to Meadow Lane. The arrangement allowed us to create a series of tranquil courtyard gardens in the heart of the site for students from the surrounding buildings to use and enjoy. Hidden within this space is anenergy centre connected to the University CHP plant.
The vision of the project was to provide a variety of accommodation types, flexible to the needs of modern students and sensitive to the historic context of the area. The high-quality refurbishment of the Grade ‘B’ listed buildings, returning them to residential use, together with the provision of new publicly accessible spaces has enhanced the area for students and residents alike. Low-carbon heating and power systems have integrated principles of sustainability into the scheme and all new build elements have been designed to BREEAM Excellent standards.
Sustainability features include the retention and re-use of many of the existing traditional materials such as sandstone walls and slate roofing. Wild-planted beds and biodiverse green roofs will improve the ecological balance of the area, aid acoustic insulation and privacy and improve water management through integration with a SUDS system of permeable paving and landscaping features.
Most importantly, these landscaped spaces will provide a pleasant natural outlook form the accommodation and high-quality, south facing, biodiverse external spaces which are easily accessible and encourage social interaction between residents, all hugely beneficial to student health and wellbeing.
The refurbished townhouses at Buccleuch Place make up 45-shared flats housing 263 residents. Each flat has a mixture or double, single or twin rooms, with twin rooms; a popular price point option for many postgraduate students, accounting for approximately 10% of the bed spaces. Each flat has a shared kitchen /dining, lounge space, and shared bathroom facilities.
The two Grade ‘B’ listed structures presented many challenges. They are important parts of the city’s heritage which merit preservation but were arranged for 19th rather than 21st century living. There was a difficult balance to achieve between uncompromising adaption to modern living standards and wholesale restoration in a manner which left the buildings difficult to use. The proposals were carefully developed in association with the City Planning&Building Control officials and Historic Environment Scotland, who were continuously consulted as refurbishment revealed some unwelcome surprises left by alterations made during the buildings 200-year lifespan.
At Meadow Lane a cluster of new accommodation has been provided containing 136 en-suite bedrooms arranged in 22 flats with shared kitchen/dining facilities. A purpose-built common room, laundry and site office providing a base for University staff and access to support services is centrally situated for use by all residents. The common room is a double-level space with a games area and a lounge/TV space which allowing a place to study and a place to meet and socialise, the building also presents the opportunity for students to spill outside into the courtyard gardens or onto a first floor roof terrace. The central location and open design of this building assists in enhancing the sense of community and place.
In addition to the new build on Meadow Lane, there was a gap in the larger scale frontage to Buccleuch Street. Here we extend the tenemental nature of Buccleuch Street, stepping the height of the development down along Meadow Lane to echo the height of the existing context.
