Enjoying uninterrupted views over the West Bay of North Berwick and to the Firth of Forth, this innovative and ambitious project for private clients Matthew Atton and Sarah Russell includes the conversion of a B-Listed former hotel property at 14 Westgate combined with a highly contemporary new two storey build to create four exclusive three-bed apartments. 

Blenheim House was built in the mid 1800’s as a private home for a wealthy stockbroker and his family. It was extended significantly by the same family n the early 1900’s. Although the property has remained in private ownership since, it operated during the Second World War as a holiday home for the war blinded and as a hotel since the early 60’s through to its closure in 2012. 

Working closely with Matthew Atton and Sarah Russell, as well as other specialist consultants, LBA has produced visionary plans to transform this dilapidated building and preserve its legacy with a change of use back to residential as well as creating an outstanding architectural development for North Berwick. 

The completed development will create four very unique properties finished to the highest specification. Two out of the four apartments will be located within the original B-listed building and will benefit from many of the traditional period features such as large rooms, original cornicing, sash and case windows and fireplaces.

The other two property designs incorporate new build with the traditional structure offering a more contemporary living space with expansive glazing and modern open plan living and kitchen spaces. However, LBA has taken great care to incorporate the character of the existing listed building to the new build elements whilst ensuring that the design is sympathetic and respectful to the surrounding architecture.  The existing grand main staircase and through areas such as entrance and fenestration will be incorporated to provide access to the upper flats.
 
Commenting on the build, Emily Anderson, project architect for LBA, said: 
“When working with listed period buildings, our design philosophy is to clearly and truthfully define the old and the new. The challenge with developments like Westgate is creating a balance between the careful repair and refurbishment of such an ornate and materially rich building with the new sharp yet subtle contemporary build element. This new build aspect should always remain appropriate and sympathetic to the building’s heritage and historical context. 

“We have embraced the building’s location within a conservation area within North Berwick and ensured that our designs are sympathetic to its context using materials identifiable within the area such as weathered timbers and mattified metals that tone beautifully with the backdrop of the water and lichened stone facades of the neighbouring properties.”

The development will also benefit from beautiful landscaping and gardens to both the front and rear of the building, along with two private parking spaces per flat.  The front aspect of the development will remain grand and impressive with symmetrical parking built either side of a classical porch entrance.  Stone paths will lead to the private main doors, flanked by box hedges, with lawn and planting to blur the edges between solid, yet permeable surfaces and private garden space. 

Lynsay Bell, managing director of LBA, added: 
“This is a really exciting design-led project for LBA, which will bring unique and innovative properties to market. 

“The key design solutions for us were to refine the new build element to ensure it is subservient to the traditional period property so we stepped the extension back at ground level and further back at the first floor tying in heights of the parapets with the delineating lines of the stone banding expressed on the south façade. 

“Design features such as sliding glass doors to the contemporary extensions contrasts beautifully with the traditional sash and case windows.  The addition of private balconies and easy access to external areas will open up incredible views over the Firth of Forth.”

Work is planned to commence on Blenheim House in early 2018 with properties expected for completion winter 2018. For more information, please contact LBA on +44 (0)131 226 7186 or visit www.studiolba.co.uk.