February 3 2022

Plans for replacement nursery provision for fire-damaged premises at 305 Lanark Road, within the Colinton Conservation Area of Edinburgh, have been prepared by Ninety One Architects.

New build replacement is necessary after a May 2021 fire devastated the previous extent that demolition and rebuild is the only way forward. Situated in an area dominated by large Victorian villas the works call for a replacement nursery on the footprint of the original, with modern spaces built to current care standards.

The split level nature of the site means both floors will have their own separate entrances with an emphasis on free-flow movement inside and out with covered external terraces leading to secure playgrounds and gardens.

In a statement, the architects wrote: "The existing nursery worked successfully for many years, however, the devastation of the fire and the requirement to demolish the existing building brought with it the opportunity to rectify the issues that came with the nursery originally occupying a former dwelling, not originally designed for nursery care.

"Externally, the design principles focused around familiarity; it was important that the new building had the same ‘homely’ feeling as the original nursery and so similar forms and masses were created to ground the building within the site, and a careful selection of tactile and familiar residential-scale materials were collated to generate a soft and settled appearance."

The nursery will be built from multi-tonal clay brick with an aged appearance to help blend in with the established surroundings.

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