BLOCK NINE were appointed by our client to develop design proposals for a detached dwelling on a gap site in the historic village of Pathhead in Midlothian.

A design-led approach to any new development, particularly within the Pathhead Conservation Area, was fundamental in ensuring the proposals achieve the high quality design expected in such a historically rich location.

Despite the evolution of the village over the centuries, Pathhead’s original building stock has remained largely unchanged, particularly along Main Street where the 18th century cottages have generally survived in their original form. Inspiration for our design proposals is largely drawn from this, maintaining a vernacular form but with a contemporary approach.

The proposal is for a 1.5 storey dwelling comprising 3 bedrooms with a modern open-plan living arrangement on the ground floor. An integrated “car port” is also included, with a generous private amenity space.

The proposals draw on the positive characteristics of the area, with the overall form and mass taking cues from the local vernacular. The pitched roof is similar to neighbouring properties, with flush rooflights and hidden gutter detailing to bring a contemporary edge to the design. The open plan living space is south facing and will maximise solar gain in the winter months, with the bi-fold glazing set back below the 1st floor, solar shading will be provided in the summer months. A combination of glazed bi-fold and sliding doors will offer fantastic access to the large landscaped garden. Positioning of window openings has been thoroughly considered to ensure the privacy of neighbouring properties is maintained, while allowing plenty of natural light into the internal spaces. A wood burning stove is also proposed for supplementary heating.

The proposed material palette is restrained to reflect the generally restricted palette within the area. The ground floor is white rendered to emphasis this as a “plinth”, with recesses clad in a light timber vertical cladding; in contrast with a dark timber cladding at the base of the natural grey-slated roof.

Aesthetically, this results in a bold contemporary design which is sympathetic to it’s historical surroundings. We do not seek to provide a replica of the rich vernacular already well established in Pathhead, but rather a fully contemporary interpretation of this. Contributing to the local area, not by imitating what is already in place, but by complementing and adding to the prevailing, multifaceted architectural language of the area.