Sea View Garden-Room | Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Artificial threshold

The project aim is to create a space that takes advantage of the panoramic sea view, while designing an additional space for working and relaxation. The flat is part of a traditional stone terrace residence located close to the Joppa Sea.

Design Philosophy

A compact, modest extension is constructed at a lower level, creating high ceilings, providing level access to the existing garden and, finally, establishing a more immediate relationship with the sea. The existing boiler cupboard is relocated, hidden behind a frameless door, thus opening up the views from the interior to the exterior. The extension is accessed through custom steps that also function as bookshelves and informal seating, while a built-in desk provides an additional working area. A linear roof skylight runs above the steps and floods the spaces with natural light.

Weather-Resistant Materials

The coastal views are enhanced by panoramic bi-fold doors that provide access to a sheltered deck. These were chosen for their high-performance capabilities in the extreme Scottish weather as well as their excellent thermal properties. Zinc is used for external cladding, which -when eventually weathered- turns to a matt gray color. In parallel, Siberian larch wood clads the recess in which the doors are located, shielding them from the high winds.

Interior Layout

The residence is comprised of an open-plan communal space that includes the kitchen, living and dining room. Warm wood and blue terrazzo tile are used for the flooring, while the walls are painted in off-white hues, emanating a cozy ambiance and contrasting the -primarily grey- exterior landscape.