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.