Magdala Mews, Edinburgh
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View from beneath overhang
Sean Begley (website) Download Original
Extension of an outshoot to a B-Listed garden dwelling, replacing a demolished garage & conservatory with a new open plan living space
The two-storey garden dwelling of 10 Magdala Mews became a separate house when the adjoining townhouse was subdivided in the 1980s. The current owners knew that they wanted the later additions of a garage and conservatory demolished and replaced with a new extension, but it was a design challenge for this B-Listed home within the World Heritage Site.
The new room is expressed as a simple modern addition connected by a frameless glazed link which gives views through to the smaller enclosed garden. The main construction material is Thermoplan from NBT - a perforated fired clay block - with thermal performance such that it did not require additional insulation, even in this layout where over 70 per cent glazing to floor area ratio is achieved.
The rate of overall heat loss is further compensated by the use of triple glazing and a warm deck roof with sedum planting, the latter also helping the new building nestle into the leafy setting when viewed from the surrounding townhouses.
Data
- Begun: Feb 2012
- Completed: Aug 2012
- Floor area: 94m2
- Sector: House
- Total cost: £130,000
- Tender date: Dec 2011
- Address: 10 Magdala Mews, Edinburgh, EH12 5BX, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Kobayashi Architect
- Client: Twentieth Century Antiques
- Structural engineer: Sloan Structural Solutions
Suppliers
- Thermoplan block: Natural Building Technologies
- Zinc roofing and cladding: VM Zinc Anthracite
- External Render: Sto Render