Community and conservation projects

Botanic Cottage Edinburgh

Location: Edinburgh

Summary: Reconstruction of a historic stone cottage using partly salvaged original materials.

Description of Works: Reconstruction of a 2-storey historic stone cottage using some salvaged materials from the original 1764 Georgian building designed by architects John Adam and James Craig.

With the addition of 2 single storey wings the building provides:

• 340m² of space
• teaching areas
• classrooms
• lecture room
• potting shed
• office
• toilets

Works included:

• Vibro compaction
• Concrete floor slab
• Natural stone rubble walling using mainly reclaimed sandstone
• 3 fireplaces
• Original stone turnpike stairwell
• Slated pitched roof using some salvaged timber roof trusses and rafters
• New and salvaged flagstone ground floors
• New and salvaged timber floorboards
• Sash and case windows and timber shutters
• Lime render
• Lath and lime plaster internal wall finishes
• Decorative plaster including cornicing
• Contractor designed platform lift installation
• Air source heat pump providing underfloor heating
• Solar pv for general use electricity

Added Value

We contributed to value engineering exercises by proposing alternate products, questioning design solutions and attending open forum meetings to assist in achieving savings and arriving at a project budget within funding parameters.  Examples include

alternative specifications for flat roof finishes together with alternative solution to roof lights, review of external wall construction of the extensions where the extent of stone was reduced together with clay brick, specialised plaster and feature detailing to conclude a timber kit solution with stone cladding and skimmed plasterboard walls.

During the course of the construction works we continued to offer further value engineering; the topsoil from the building footprint was retained in adjacent nursery gardens for future use throughout the garden; the specification of the glazing within the windows was reviewed and alternatives suggested allowing the implementation of slim line double glazed units. This generated a saving but also provided lower maintenance costs should panes be damaged during the building’s lifespan.

Community Benefits

• 2 month work placement for a young apprentice Stone Mason via Princes Trust
• hosted various traditional craft apprentice visits including the organisation of a Hot Lime Mortar demonstration

Awards

• 2017 Scottish Civic Trust My Place Awards – Winner
• 2015 Georgian Group Architectural Awards – Commended

Video

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