This project involved the conversion of a listed landmark building within the centre of Haddington, East Lothian. This cluster of buildings adjacent to an ancient kirk has a fascinating history, as a maltings for the old brewery during the 18th century, and the former offices and printing press of the East Lothian Courier Newspaper.
A development of 14 affordable homes, and new office space for East Lothian Housing Association were formed within the historic structures.
The project both preserved and safeguarded the historic features within the existing building, and was carried out successfully within highly pressurised time and budgetary constraints.
New interventions are revealed at street level behind the industrial scale openings of the print press at ground floor level. These consist of a simple palette of anthracite stained timber and larger glazed openings to contrast with the heavy stone walls. The existing maltings structure was reinforced, with internal sub-divisions designed to act independently from it. This allows the existing structure to be highly flexible for a wide range of future uses,
A new district heating system powers both the offices and the new dwellings. Despite the high restrictions upon alterations and repairs to the fabric of the building as a result of its listed status, the structure exceeded the high energy performance targets normally associated with new buildings.
The project won both the 'Best new small-scale affordable housing' and the 'Best new conversion award' categories of the Scottish Housing Design Awards 2012.
Michael Collins led the project as senior associate and project architect from inception to completion at OCA.