Leith Academy
Quarryholes, Leith, Edinburgh

Project Value: £10 million
Client: Lothian Regional Council

'When you build a thing you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but you must also repair the world around it, and within it, so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, and more whole.' – Christopher Alexander (Pattern Language)

The book Pattern Language was a key reference in the development of the Design. Looking to the models created by the Hertfordshire County Council, post war, the Lothian Regional Council Department of Architectural Services(LRC DAS) addressed the three main planning issues - Planning for change, taming technology and providing a sense of place.

The building is conceived by LRC DAS as a series of separate units within an overall structure – intended for 900 pupils the assumption built in is that this figure will change. This flexibility allows for expansion and contraction and addresses the problems of shared use with non-educational tenants.

In terms of alterations to the spaces due to curriculum changes this is facilitated by the exclusion of internal load bearing partitions.

The external envelope is restrained and simple however the form and massing of the building relates to the scale of its surroundings and the backdrop of the crags of the Queens Park. The scale of its internal streets and alleyways provides an urban-village environment for its users.

We were delighted to be able to support and contribute to the project post concept and be part of the process in designing a building to enrich the life experience of the students thus adding real value to the schools architecture.

Project undertaken with Lothian Regional Council Department of Architectural Services.

Photos © Keith Hunter