Contemporary Three-Bedroom Timber Frame Self Build House Plans

You could call Andrew Laing and June Russell veteran self builders. The couple, a retired police officer and bridal boutique owner, previously dabbled in development and have completed several self build and renovation projects over the years. But in 2020, it was time for them to tackle their final scheme. “This was our swan song,” says Andrew. “We wanted to build the perfect home for our retirement.”

As seasoned self builders, the couple weren’t afraid to take on a real challenge, and that’s exactly what they did when they bought their chosen plot. Located in Edinburgh’s New Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the backland site sits amongst charming Georgian townhouses and elegant squares.

“We knew the area, as it had been on Andrew’s first beat when he was a police constable back in the ‘80s,” says June. At 600m², the land is located behind a grade A listed crescent and had once been the garden and grounds of a grand residence. More recently, it was used as a car park before being hived off for development.

see the home

Over the years, three planning applications for building on the site had been submitted and rejected, so the couple certainly took a gamble when they bought it in March 2020. “There had been huge community objection to the previous planning applications,” says Andrew. “So, we knew we would need to work hard to build good relationships with our neighbours and design something that would enhance the local area. Buying without planning permission was risky, but it certainly paid off in the end.”

Designed to sit neatly on the unusually shaped lot, the finished home is a rhombus with perpendicular walls. Internally, the couple opted for an upside down house layout, with the bedrooms downstairs and the living spaces above.

“This gave us eye-level views of the garden from the upper floor and created a continuum from the living area, through the balcony to the garden,” says Andrew. “It also means that each of the bedrooms stays cooler during the summer months, despite a south facing rear elevation that’s mostly glass.”