A bulletin of the most pertinent updates from our office.

29.03.2024

Drem Farm featured in Homes and Interiors Scotland’s Collector’s Issue

Our comprehensive renovation and expansion of the captivating Category C listed cottage has been prominently spotlighted in Home and Interiors Scotland, underscoring our commitment to seamlessly blending its historic allure with modern functionality. Words by Malcolm Jack.

This project was photographed by Fredrick Frendin.

Would you like to explore a comparable endeavour? To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

21.02.2024

New project: Wilton

We’ve just received stunning photos showcasing the abundant natural light and unique multi-level design of this home. With a striking combination of steel and Douglas fir, the interior exudes a captivating contrast and luxurious richness.

This project was photographed by David Barbour.

We’re continually pursuing technical and creative originality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

18.01.2024

Practical completion

Drummond Place has successfully reached practical completion. In this project, we upgraded an outdated and inefficient conservatory with a contemporary, high-quality stone extension featuring extensive glass areas that seamlessly link to the client's beautifully landscaped garden.

Professional photographs will be shared upon the completion of the landscaping phase.

Are you interested in doing something similar? Introduce us to your project. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

12.01.2024

Planning approved

Securing planning approval for this Category B-listed property in Gullane marks a truly gratifying milestone! Our optimism is high as we look forward to completing this home mid-summer so our client can enjoy summer evenings on the exquisite decking.

Are you interested in doing something similar? Introduce us to your project. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

22.08.2023

Planning approved

It’s always a pleasure to receive planning consent for a project. This one will see us transform the ground floor living spaces of this period house with a few bold but simple moves. It is a lesson in design elegance and clear thinking—keep it simple!

Are you interested in doing something similar? Introduce us to your project. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

16.08.2023

At home in Stockbridge

Fresh off the press, we have some beautiful photos of our full refurbishment and extension project in Stockbridge. We completed this stunning refurbishment last summer and are delighted to see our clients and their family feel truly at home there.

For context, the house is situated within the Inverleith conservation area and has whole host of original period details. But, as with many older traditional properties, it have little connection to the garden and lacked a generous family space suitable for all-day usage.

The careful combination of form and materials, roof lights and sliding doors and internal fitted furniture combine to create a wonderful sense of order, calm, light and ease of living. The home is stylish without being fussy or ostentatious.

We love it! It was a joy to work on and be part of this thrilling chapter in our clients’ lives.

This project was photographed by David Barbour; constructed by the professional team at Edinburgh Contractor.

Are you interested in doing something similar? Introduce us to your project. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

26.07.2023

New project: Midmar

This bold staircase replaces an existing small and enclosed stairway that once lead to the maid’s room in this listed property. We removed a section of the floor to create a double-height void and turned the original maid’s room into a mezzanine within the main kitchen and dining space. The staircase is now a focal point in this open-plan space; the solid oak has a grounding and calming presence. It also contains three hidden doors with ample storage.

This project was photographed by Fredrik Frendin.

We’re continually pursuing technical and creative originality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

19.07.2023

Enrich your surroundings

We create a visual walk-through for every project to help our clients visualise our design proposal.

Perched on a cliff, this cliffside home in Dunbar is entirely connected to the seascape beyond. We develop concepts that prioritise your connection to the natural world and, in so doing, enhance your quality of life.

To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

15.06.2023

Planning submitted: The Grange

We have just submitted planning for this Grade B listed property in the heart of The Grange conservation area.

It’s a majestic house: heavy and even loaded with various complexities and intricacies. Our proposal for the extension is the antithesis to the house itself: simple, light, open and elegant. The extension’s timber cladding is lightweight—the perfect counterpoint to the heavy masonry. The roof’s vaulted space is the unifying element; we’ve tied the extension into the crook of the house and its annex.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

12.06.2023

Construction begins: Drummond Place

We are now on-site with this project. We will be sharing some behind-the-scenes of this internal refurbishment and extension on our Instagram; make sure you’re following us.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

16.05.2023

Planning and Listed Building consent approved: Southside

We are delighted to share that planning and listed building consent were approved by The City of Edinburgh Council for this beautiful home in Edinburgh’s Southside.

The proposals will see the upper and lower flats converted back into a stunning family home. As part of the works, the property will be carefully renovated and sensitively modernised to meet the needs of a young, growing family.

To the rear, the existing poorly conceived annex will be removed to allow for a new open extension, which will provide direct access to the garden.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

14.03.2023

Somner Macdonald Architects attends Futurebuild in London

As part of our commitment to make better buildings and address how construction can address the climate crisis, we attended Futurebuild in London last week.

Futurebuild is about building a better future for the built environment. As the industry’s premier event, it provides a stage for inspiring ideas, innovative solutions and knowledge-sharing to drive sustainable construction. We met many ecological building suppliers (such as Hemspan and Clayworks), as well as low-carbon energy suppliers (such as Kensa Group) who are utilising innovative technologies to reduce energy not just during occupancy, but during the construction phase too.

For more information, please visit futurebuild.co.uk

07.03.2023

Planning approved: Deep retrofit and extension of Oldhamstocks Cottage

We recently received planning and conservation area consents for the deep retrofit and extension of a traditional stone built cottage in Oldhamstocks, East Lothian. The cottage as existing is typical of its type, in both arrangement and scale, but a series of poor interventions had compromised the overall performance and soundness of the cottage’s traditional fabric. We have been tasked by our clients to create a high performing healthy home, fit for twenty-first century living.

The retrofit methodologies developed and proposed include:

• Improving air quality and reduction in the overall carbon footprint through the use of vapour open construction, naturally derived materials and renewable building materials.

• The use of higher performance building systems to achieve greater levels of air tightness and lower levels of heat loss thus reducing costs imposed by heating systems.

• The use of traditional building techniques and technologies within the existing cottage to maintain a vapour open construction, maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the traditional stone build structure.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

02.03.2023

Warrant approved: Drummond Place

The third project to receive an approval this week was our proposal for an internal refurbishment and extension of a terraced ground and lower-ground floor flat on Drummond Place in Edinburgh.

The Category A-listed property is located within both the Edinburgh UNESCO World Heritage Site and the New Town Conservation Area. The project has received warrant approval from the City of Edinburgh Council and will now move into the tender stage. We are anticipating to start on site in the summer of 2023.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

24.02.2023

Planning approved: Cluny Avenue

The second project to receive planning permission and listed building consent is this proposal for an internal refurbishment of a semi-detached villa on Cluny Avenue in Edinburgh.

Due to the sloping nature of the site’s topography, the rear of the property benefits from a lower ground floor with direct access to the garden. The existing rooms on the lower ground remain close to the original layout—small, cellular rooms are used for storage and lead to a larger kitchen space. There is also a very large solum with full head-height access. Our proposal includes the reinvention of the existing rooms on this level, but also the conversion of the solum space to provide ancillary spaces of the newly formed open-plan kitchen, living and dining area. This will create a generously scaled, light-filled open-plan family room with direct access to the garden.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

20.02.2023

Planning approved: Braid Road

It’s been a busy week and it’s only Monday. We’ve received two planning approvals and had one building warrant granted.

The first project we received planning for is a small garden room and landscaping scheme on Edinburgh’s Braid Road. This external room is to act as an ancillary entertaining space to the main house, where our clients can entertain and relax in privacy. The internal space utilises polished concrete and timber lined walls and ceiling to create a practical yet visually appealing interior. Externally, the larch timber cladding is envisaged to act as both a visual surface finish and a trellis for vegetation to grow upon, creating a living wall onto the adjacent terrace.

We are eagerly anticipating to develop this in the coming months; we are anticipating to start on site in the summer of 2023.

Let us make your vision a reality. To submit an enquiry, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/contact

17.02.2023

We advocate the use of sustainable, low-carbon and high-performance building materials and techniques

In line with the principles of natural and breathable construction, we advocate the use of sustainable, low-carbon and high-performance building materials and techniques. Hugo, who joined us last year, is a certified Passivhaus designer. His wealth of knowledge is indispensable when it comes to designing healthier indoor environments.

The Passivhaus methodologies include, but are not limited to:

• Improving air quality through the use of more natural building materials

• Reducing the carbon footprint of construction through the use of naturally derived, renewable building materials

• The use of higher performance building systems to achieve greater levels of air tightness and lower levels of heat loss; this reduces costs imposed by heating systems

For more information, please visit passivhaustrust.org.uk

14.01.2023

Swiss-made Sky-Frame installed at Hermitage

We reached an exciting milestone at our Hermitage project recently with the installation of Sky-Frame, Swiss-made frameless sliding doors and windows. Providing a flush transition between indoor and outdoor, they create an unbounded spatial experience.

For more information, please visit sky-frame.com

13.01.2023

External skin of a new extension is complete

We fitted Honshu Shou Sugi Ban® cladding to a new extension in a home in Kilgraston earlier this week. The appearance is stunning; its impact has exceeded our expectations. It fits its context effortlessly, with no sandstone in sight.

For more information, please visit shousugiban.co.uk

27.10.2022

Craiglockhart shortlisted in the Edinburgh Architecture Awards 2022

We are completely thrilled that our proposal for Craiglockhart has been shortlisted for the Edinburgh Architecture Awards 2022 in the Small Projects category.

For more information, please visit eea.org.uk

28.09.2022

New project: Gilmour

We are pleased to present a new project. Our client found us after reaching an impasse with another architect. We were open, mindful and considerate to their vision for a generous kitchen/dining space.

To view the project, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/gilmour

30.06.2022

New project: Woodsome

We are pleased to present a new project (a third we’ve completed for this client). They sought our help to replace the crumbling two-storey rear annex with something more contemporary.

To view the project, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/woodsome

01.02.2022

Craiglockhart and Hermitage nominated in the Scottish Design Awards 2021

Not one but two of our projects have been nominated in the Scottish Design Awards 2021. Hermitage received a nomination under the Future Building category. Craiglockhart received a nomination under the Low Cost Project Schemes under £200k category.

To view the projects, please visit somnermacdonald.co.uk/craiglockhart and somnermacdonald.co.uk/hermitage