Leith Fort Colonies
Innovative colony style housing, each afforded a south facing garden, is arranged in terraces facing onto living streets which lead to a central neighbourhood park.
- Year
- 2011
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Category
- Housing, Streets and Squares
- Client
- 21st Century Homes, CEC, and Port of Leith Housing Association
- Value
- Undisclosed
- Size
- 1.7Ha
Living Streets
The landscape proposals offer a holistic approach to the site complimenting the built form and embedding it into a high quality setting for the new residents. The external environment helps to define the landscape proposals through the integration of a ‘Living Street’ principle and providing a series of varied spaces offering opportunity for varied activity. The central green, children’s play area, community facilities, connection axis from the Hamilton Wynd houses and residential aspects all directly address a core Square.
South facing aspect
As part of the 21st Century Homes programme the Leith Fort site is proposed for redevelopment, removing the existing high rise housing and replacing with new affordable homes fit for the 21st Century. The innovative colony style housing, each afforded a south facing garden, is arranged in terraces facing onto living streets which lead to a central neighbourhood park. The exemplary street design is considered throughout the proposals. The main site access passes through the park, and yet by designing an integrated and considered road, will not be allowed to dominate it. The connection from Portland Street to Lindsay Street changes from single to duel direction while crossing this space and these traffic movements are designed to be controlled and directed by trees and street furniture.
Focal neighborhood park
The new neighbourhood park sits at the heart of the development, a positive focal point for the housing. A new pedestrian link north to south through the site links the new housing with Hamilton Wynd to the north. This central path provides a safe and convenient route through the site, helping to connect the surrounding streets and wider context. The orientation, location, and massing of the new housing is considered in relation to the neighbourhood park, so as not to compromise the primary amenity space by prohibiting sunlight or casting shadows.
