The House Design

Daryl Robbins of Richard Murphy Architects is the project architect for the contract to build the house on Tipperlinn Road. We have worked with Daryl before on another RMA project in Gifford and we were pleased he was the project architect on this job. He has a real love of his craft but makes the building process and the interaction between contractor and architect an easy relaxed and productive process.

We asked him about the design concept for the house and he has given us this fascinating piece which not only describes the thought process behind the current design but it also takes us through 4 different options for the site. The three early options chart the design process where the architect has to balance the aspirations of the client with the potential and the limitations of the site, in particular its orientation towards the sunshine! So in his own words Daryl explains it for us here and we have reprinted the four plans discussed as options with the clients...

Option 1

The design ideas for Tipperlinn Road all started with the concept of the 'hidden house' . The site offered large rubble stone walls on two sides and we jumped at the opportunity to create a house that while being explicitly modern nestled itself into the context of Morningside. Options for a single storey dwelling hidden behind the rubble stone walls were explored, making use of the existing access gate from Tipperlinn Road.

Option 2

The early designs focused around ideas of a south or north facing courtyard garden. The site was previously the garden of a large house on Morningside Place, a new dividing wall was to be built separating the site from the garden. Leaving the challenge of making the most of the south facing aspects of the site and maintaining sufficient privacy between the new house and the surrounding properties.

Option 3

The single storey proposal has a very interesting section. By placing the courtyard to the North of the site a conscious decision was made to create a continuous south facing roof light the full length of the open plan kitchen, living, dining area. The proposed roof light is angled to Edinburgh's summer sun angles, routing the design of this house to its context. Large externally stacking floor to ceiling glazed panels open the main living area to the courtyard. With an abundance of natural light the next challenge of appropriating modern living to the Scottish climate presented itself. DR

The Final Design

We would be really interested in your own thoughts from the options shown or maybe there is something you have seen or changes you would make if it was your own house. What do you think?