April 13 2023

A new leisure destination in the Pentland Hills is to welcome sports enthusiasts. 


Smith Scott Mullan Associates have filed plans for Destination Hillend, a leisure landmark hosting a range of activity spaces at the former Midlothian Snowsports Centre. 


Serving as an activities hub the facility provides climbing, soft play and skiing facilities as well as associated dining, events and retail space. 


In a press statement the practice wrote: "The development is targeting net zero in terms of operational carbon using a fabric-first approach and will utilise renewables for operational energy. Smith Scott Mullan Associates are now progressing technical design information for the new landmark, sensitively tucked into the hillside." 


Set within a 'monolithic volume' that follows the ridgeline of the Pentland Hills, the red terracotta tiled facade references the pan tile roofs of buildings in the region. Entrances are delineated by patterned green, yellow and purple glazed brick drawn from the natural colours of the landscape. 


Harnessing a green roof to blend into the landscape the hub nestles within the steep topography to ensure level access from the road and minimise visual intrusion. 
 
 
  


Project team

• Structural: Pick Everard
• M&E: Cundall
• QS: Thomson Bethune
• PM: Hardies Property & Construction Consultants  
• Landscape: Wardell Armstrong
• Planning: Montague Evans
• CDM: Midlothian Council

1 Comment

#1 Posted by Anon on 14 Apr 2023 at 11:20 AM

Love to see this happen, but been talked about for years... what has changed?

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