Blackwood Crescent forms part of The University of Edinburgh’s extensive student accommodation portfolio.

The existing Halls of Residence offer little architectural merit, a 1980s roughcast addition book-ending a typical Edinburgh Victorian stone tenement, however a private internal courtyard parking area which is seldom used was considered apart from for service vehicles, was considered to be an ideal site for offering a large student common room facility for all flats within the precinct to make use of.

The site is overlooked and overshadowed by 4 floors of University and public residential accommodation to the immediate East and West of the site, whilst a narrow public alleyway sits immediately to the South and the private courtyard sits immediately to the North.

This restrictive site required a design solution which would avoid overlooking from above and to all sides, whilst preventing security risks from the public alleyway.

A series of innovative design options were developed which provided a space where students could meet to work and socialise.

These were intended to contrast with the unremarkable existing building, whilst exploiting the constricted outlook and amenity around the site