Architect
Studio IMA
Contractor
Adrian Holly & Rory Middleton
Structural engineer
SF Structures & Clays
Energy consultant
Steff Bell, Futurekomfort
Joppa Terrace
Year
Ongoing
Location
Portobello, Edinburgh
Year
Ongoing
Location
Portobello, Edinburgh
Contemporary new build Passivhaus-standard artists studio and home, adjacent to the former Joppa train station.
Occupying the site of a former DVLA Driving Test Centre in Portobello, Edinburgh, the house (currently under construction) is for local artist/makers Rory and Jana Middleton and their family.
The project is to feature on the 2026 series of Channel 4's 'Grand Designs'.
Rory and Jana repurposed the DVLA centre as a studio before moving in, inadvertently lending the building the title of a 'house' after a period of time. This opened up the route in planning terms to create a new house on the site given the original building was low grade and well beyond its lifespan.
Reacting to the constraints of the tight site, the house adopts a natural north south orientation, optimising solar gain through large openings to the south whilst also benefitting from open sea views to the north.
The house is airtight, over-insulated and utilises an MVHR system and has been designed to work with a PHPP calculation which brings it into line with Passivhaus certification.
21 Morton Street
