House Plans: Innovative Community Custom Build in Edinburgh

9th June 2018

Inspired by community housing projects in South America, John and Jenny Kinsley decided to embark on a collective build in Edinburgh’s Portobello.

They wanted to update the typical model of a Scottish tenement for modern living, including renewable features and open-plan interiors across six flats.

The end result proved well worth the challenges. John and Jenny’s top floor three-bedroom flat feels bright and spacious with an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area that offers fabulous sea views.

Fact file:

Names John & Jennifer Kinsley
Type of projectCommunity self-build
Construction methodCross-laminated timber frame
Project routeArchitect & main contractor
House size110m2 (entire development is 498m2)
Project cost £267,948 for the flat (£883,197 for entire development)

A workstation behind the sofa includes a clever alternating tread staircase, which leads up through a sliding overhead window to the roof garden above, and also doubles as a bookcase.

The apartment achieves Passivhaus standards of insulation and airtightness, and is fitted with a mechanical heat recovery ventilation system. The vents are hidden in hall and bathroom bulkheads to achieve clean, uninterrupted wooden ceilings.

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