July 19 2016

The Thistle Foundation have unwrapped a health and wellbeing centre geared toward assisting those with disabilities in leading independent lives at Craigmillar, Edinburgh.

Designed by 3DReid Architects the facility sits within a model village-esque development of 103 homes built in the aftermath of the Second World War, now a designated conservation area it was one of the first schemes to be designed specifically for injured returning servicemen.

Housing a gym, consultation and training rooms and office space the building replaces an existing facility deemed no longer fit for purpose and is built around a double-height hub space for meeting and relaxation.

In a statement the architects observed: “Through extensive use of timber cladding, both inside and out, the project offers a warm and inviting environment for those who visit, many of whom suffer from anxiety-related conditions. Crafting a non-institutional and friendly presence was instrumental in ensuring that the built environment did not compound these…

“Pressure treated with a blend of preservation and pigmentation, the timber cladding will retain its current hue, throughout its lifespan, maintaining consistency at the interfaces between the internal and external use of the material, whilst offering a palette that tonally aligns to the building’s surroundings. Extended fins to the East and West facades help reduce solar gain and glare, to the first floor office spaces, whilst the cladding also integrates the ‘Thistle’ logo.”

Brickwork and pre-cast concrete are also used to complement a listed arts & crafts style chapel with honeycombed acrylic panels punctuating the office space to form ‘quiet pods’ that also introduce elements of colour.

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