Bespoke house in Pathhead, just outside Edinburgh

Designing on a compact infill site is rarely straightforward.

For this bespoke house in Pathhead, just outside Edinburgh, the challenge wasn't simply fitting a new home onto a narrow gap site. It was creating generous, light-filled living spaces while carefully protecting the privacy and amenity of neighbouring properties.

Our response was a contemporary interpretation of the local vernacular. A simple 1.5 storey form with a pitched roof sits comfortably within the streetscape, while carefully positioned windows, recessed south-facing glazing and landscaped outdoor spaces ensure the house feels open and connected to its garden without overlooking adjacent homes.

Every aspect of the design was considered - from orientation and solar gain to massing, materiality and the relationship with its neighbours, demonstrating how thoughtful architecture can unlock the potential of even the most constrained sites.

Good design isn't about having the biggest site. It's about making every square metre work.