Neil Middleton Architects

A project from our archive that we have been revisiting recently.

We were commissioned to explore the feasibility of a small holiday cabin on a rural site in Midlothian with views across the Pentland Hills. A derelict caravan had occupied the site for several decades, and our client wanted to replace it with something more useful and better suited to its setting.

Our proposal was for a compact timber cabin with a red metal roof, a small kitchenette and living space, and a sleeping deck above. Despite its modest size, the design aimed to make the most of the site's spectacular views.

We enjoyed the opportunity to design this little building, although the project was ultimately unable to proceed due to difficulties providing a fresh water supply to the site.

A closer look at the wall build-up and window detail at Gullane House.

We try to keep our material palette simple and use sustainable materials wherever possible. For this extension, the wall build-up is timber throughout: a timber frame structure, wood fibre insulation and thermopine cladding from Russwood which will weather naturally to a silvery grey over time.

We took the time to carefully set out of the rainscreen timber cladding helps give the elevations rhythm and character.

The wood fibre insulation wraps around the outside of the structure, creating a particularly effective thermal envelope. The triple-glazed windows combine timber frames with aluminium cladding externally, providing warmth and natural materials inside, with durability and low maintenance outside.

Getting these details right at an early stage helps improve building performance, reduces embodied carbon and lower energy use. It's something we enjoy helping homeowners achieve as part of the design process.

Photos by Tfm Photos

With still top of the league with only two games to go and playing their final home game of the season tonight, we have been reflecting on some of the work we have done at Tynecastle over the last few years.

After Hearts qualified for Europe in the 2023/24 season, we were commissioned to redesign the technical area shelters to meet UEFA licensing capacity requirements.

The challenge was to increase their seat capacity within the footprint of the previous shelters, whilst also taking on feedback from the football department in terms of seating configuration and pitch sightlines.

We were inspired by the iconic club crest and took the time to break down and understand the geometry of the heart shape. Our design solution uses the curve of the Hearts badge as the structure, helping the new shelters feel integrated with the club’s identity.

We worked closely with the club, engineer and metal fabricator to a tight close season deadline, with installation completed in time for the start of the 2024/25 season and the club’s return to European competition. The new technical areas are now fully UEFA compliant and provide state-of-the-art facilities for the first team and coaching staff.

Good luck to Hearts in their quest for a first league title since 1960.

We have recently been involved in a project to convert a former bank building into , a new High Street cocktail bar in Dalbeattie.

It has been rewarding to collaborate with our clients Patrick and Laura to bring this elegant building back to life.

Our approach has been to restore the original proportions of the main interior space by removing later interventions - including the suspended ceiling to expose the original cornices. Two additional windows on the gable bring daylight deep into the interior. The back-of-house areas have been planned to work efficiently while making use of existing services, with a small upstairs space retained as an office.

We have secured planning permission and building warrant approval for the project as well as provided drawings for the licensing application and are looking forward to seeing the bar open later this year.