In what must be one of the most challenging conversion achieved during
the last decade in the capital, Edinburgh-based Miller Homes has
transformed a former Victorian old people's home on the south side of
the city into a modern housing development without in any way destroying
its character, and indeed enhancing much of the existing architectural
elegance of a bygone era.
Located at Glenlockhart in the Craiglockhart area of Edinburgh,
Greenlea Old People's Home was built between 1867-69 and had been
standing empty for about three years before Millers acquired the
building and its seven-acre site in 1987. The main section of the home
was a long, impressive edifice of honey-coloured sandstone, with an
imposing clock tower occupying the central section of the block.
This, like the rest of the buildings on the site was B-listed, a
factor which imposed a challenge to the team charged with transforming
the place from its rather stark institutional environment into an
attractive private housing development.
The local planning authorities were sympathetic while at the same time
being insistent. As Miller's plans were taking shape one of the largest
structural undertakings was to remove the stone walls which had been
added between the five original but separate blocks some years after
they had been completed, in order to containing linking corridors.
Because these had been later additions permission was given, and work
commenced on their demolition and the conversion of the first block.
Time had inevitably taken its toll on the structure of the old
buildings, and the whole place had to be re-roofed using Scotch slate,
much of it carefully salvaged from the old roofs. Most of the floors
were reusable, but many of the partition walls had to be renewed.
Care was taken to preserve sections of the ornate cornices and all the
stonework which had become weathered was replaced. Many windows required
extensive repair work or complete renewal, all of which was carried out
in Miller's own joinery shop. Wooden bannister rails were also repaired
or replaced.
Original ceiling heights, door and doorway proportions, crow-stepped
gables and a myriad of other important architectural features have been
carefully retained or repaired. In some cases new techniques and new
materials were employed to produce a better end-product without the
changes showing.
The company was helped by experience gained from the conversion of a
building in Bell Street, Glasgow, in the Eighties.
Despite the fact that the buildings had been designed for
institutional use, the Victorian architects had lovingly embellished
their designs with ornate cornices. These were mainly created from
plaster held together with horsehair.
Most of the cornices were replaced, using a specialised firm which
employs a plaster strengthened with glassfibre.
Full advantage was taken of the fact that the old buildings faced
south and as a result the public rooms are bright and sunny, while the
modern kitchens are mostly located at the rear of the buildings. The
flats vary in size and a few in the central tower block have been
created on two levels.
Because of its octagonal shape this block contains eight-sided living
rooms, which have superb cornices and ceiling mouldings.
Work is proceeding on the last of the blocks and the next task is to
tackle some of the other buildings which formed part of the original
complex. Here a variety of designs are being created, while new homes
are being built on some of the peripheral areas.
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