Helen Lucas Architects are delighted to congratulate Associate Nick Green and Senior Associate Lucy Sacker on qualifying as Certified Passive House Designers with the Passive House Institute. 

As Scotland moves towards adopting a Passivhaus Equivalent standard for all new build housing, the depth of knowledge and technical understanding gained will be a valuable resource within the practice in continuing to deliver low energy, super-efficient and thermally comfortable projects – both new build and refurbishment. 

The construction industry has a huge role to play in responding to the Climate Emergency and we look forward to using Passivhaus as a tool to reduce the impact our buildings have by reducing their in-use energy demands, alongside wider efforts to reduce the embodied carbon of our designs. 

Helen Lucas Architects ltd is a member of the Passivhaus Trust and we would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in pursuing a Passive House or Enerphit project.

Helen Lucas Architects are delighted to congratulate Architectural Assistant, Jake Woods, upon winning gold in the men’s PR1 2000m at the 2024 World Rowing Indoor Championships in Prague. Congratulations Jake!

Helen Lucas Architects are delighted to congratulate Director and Architect, Rosalind Love, on the successful completion of her RIAS Conservation Accreditation. Ros’ specialist knowledge of conservation architecture is invaluable to the practice; many of our projects situated in conservation areas and several undertaking works to listed buildings. Congratulations Ros!

Helen Lucas Architects are working to transform a 1960s bungalow in the Colinton area, realising a programme of works to rationalise the space for the challenges of modern family living. While almost doubling the floor area, the open nature of the internal scheme will also improve the property’s relationship to its garden.

Furthermore, the works will provide a significant thermal upgrade to the property’s original masonry cavity wall construction, dramatically reducing the home’s energy consumption. A new dormer is insulated with wood fibre and will feature timber cladding articulated with vertical fins between the windows.

We are excited to see our Walled Garden site taking shape, glasshouse now installed, in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Helen Lucas Architects are delighted to announce that Will Cairns has been made a Senior Associate, and Nick Green an Associate. Congratulations Will and Nick!

We are delighted to have received Planning Permission for this standalone Studio and Sauna building. The studio is located on the site of an existing garage in a clearing within a mature grouping of deciduous and coniferous trees. The building will house an art studio space, sauna and outdoor shower.  

Black stained timber and pared-back detailing will be used to create a striking yet discreet structure within the trees.

Helen Lucas Architects Ltd are excited to announce that we are currently working with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to reinvigorate the Grade B Listed Inverleith House. The project will establish design solutions to sensitively refurbish and upgrade the garden’s key creative programmes venue, amplifying the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Arts Strategy to establish Inverleith House as Climate House and be both ecologically and sustainably focused. 

The Architecture Fringe Festival returns from the 4th-20th June 2021 with a wide range of online and on site events, including the online graduate Showcase from Architecture and Landscape Architecture students across Scotland. The Architecture Fringe is a grassroots organisation based in Scotland that explores architecture and design in our social, political and cultural contexts.

To mark International Women’s Day we would like to highlight some organisations doing fantastic work to promote women in architecture and the built environment, and draw attention to the often overlooked role of women in our profession. 

On International Women’s Day 2021 we wish to acknowledge and celebrate of all the wonderful and talented women in our team here at Helen Lucas Architects!

Lots of our projects have been continuing on site despite the adversity of this last year and we thought we would show some photographs of work currently in development and nearing completion. Out of a long and bitter winter we are beginning to feel the warmth and welcome the new shoots of spring here in Edinburgh, and the connections to landscape and sunlight which have long been imagined begin to reveal themselves with the turning season.  

Helen Lucas Architects is proud and delighted that Christina Gaiger has been announced as one of Architects' Journal’s ’40 under 40’ - a long-running recognition of architecture’s brightest up-and-coming talent.

Since 1985 AJ has been highlighting the most promising architects, innovators and designers and the alumni of ’40 under 40’ include some of the world’s leading designers and thinkers. Congratulations to Christina, an amazing achievement! 

We are pleased to announce that our project for a new house near Arisaig has been granted planning permission. Commanding fantastic views over Loch Nan Ceall, the proposal is for a new build house featuring a Douglas-fir frame and constructed sustainably using breathable wood-fibre insulation. 

Helen Lucas Architects are delighted to announce that Rosalind Love has been made a director. This reflects the senior role she takes in supporting Helen in the practice. Congratulations to Ros!

 

We are pleased to announce that our project for Burr’s Garage, Tongue, has been granted planning permission. At the local planning committee the proposal was unanimously granted approval, receiving high praise for an extensive and detailed submission which will provide a world-class attraction and community focused gathering space for locals and visitors alike. Further details of the committee's decision can be found in the Northern Times article here.

In preparation for returning to working from the office we have been working with Allgood, our wonderful ironmongery specialists, to upgrade our space in line with new Covid-19 working practices. 

Following developments on the COVID-19 pandemic, please note the following.

We are committed to ensuring all our clients and contractors can access our usual high levels of service as normal. Our staff remain fully available for you via all the following channels - phone and email.

One of our key responsibilities is to protect the health and welfare of our employees, clients and everyone else in our community; whilst helping to slow the wider spread of the virus.

To maintain an uninterrupted service, we have taken proactive measure in line with Government advise, to ensure we can continue to operate in the coming weeks, while managing the developing situation.

The digital nature of our business means that all employees have the capability and systems to work remotely from home should this be required exclusively. We are already operating on a variable staffing arrangement with some employees choosing to work exclusively from home, some choosing to work partially from home and some continuing to work from the office.

We have not ceased business travel for our employees but we are limiting this and looking to optimise other means of communication such as video conferencing, rather than encouraging face to face meetings. We will of course work with our clients and contractors and respect their wishes on preferred means of contact.

Thank you again for your continued support. Our staff remain here for you and we will continue to monitor the position and provide you with further communications as and when necessary.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss further.

Helen Lucas

This year, instead of distributing Christmas cards we have decided to make a charity donation to Crisis. 

Helen Lucas Architects have recently completed a full renovation of a 3-storey townhouse on the picturesque seafront of North Berwick.

Helen Lucas Architects recently hosted a community consultation for a new project in the village of Tongue, North-West Highlands. We found it greatly beneficial to discuss our proposals with the local community and they were enthusiastically received. The proposals seek to renew and add to an existing garage, shop and shed buildings formed around an enhanced ‘mercat’ street. We will be providing a new shop with fuel pumps, a restaurant, flexible pop-up shop area, event space, accommodation for tourists and a business start-up unit envisioned to house a microbrewery.

We’re pleased to announce that planning has been granted for our renovation project in Culross, Fife. The proposal is for the extensive refurbishment of an existing 1960’s detached house, set within the environs of the historic Culross Abbey. New cladding materials help to both sustainably improve the external insulation and bed the building into it’s woodland surroundings. A carefully considered extension and internal alterations also combine to help open up much enhanced living spaces to the marvellous views across the Firth of Forth. 

Helen Lucas Architects have recently been awarded planning for a new project in Midlothian. This renovation of an old agricultural steading provides a contemporary studio space for the clients, replacing the existing roof to better integrate the steading within the context of the surrounding modernist influenced house. The proposals also include sustainable insulation improvements to the existing building fabric.

Stripping back the historic layers and piercing the gloom; bringing new life to a New Town flat. 

Helen Lucas Architects had an inspiring and fascinating day at Historic Environment Scotland's Engine Shed on 'Conservation Ethics and Approaches'. The keynote lecture was by Caitlin DeSilvey, exploring the philosophy of managed decay and material change and letting historic buildings 'be'. Her book, 'Curated Decay: Heritage Beyond Saving' by The University of Minnesota Press, is a thought-provoking and provocative read. 

HLA have recently completed a new 3 bedroom house on a narrow site in the Belhaven Conservation Area.

It sits to the rear of the site, clad in brick and Scottish Larch. The roof is zinc and the whole house is insulated with breathable wood fibre insulation. 

Helen Lucas Architects’ project for Ingleby Gallery at the Glasite Meeting House has been featured in the latest issue of the Magazine of The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Written by architectural assistant to the project Cal Harris, the feature charts the historic development of the Glasite Meeting House and details the recent conversion into a dynamic, versatile platform for contemporary art.

The full article can be read here (.pdf).

Links to information regarding membership to AHSS can be found here .

The renovation and extension of the house on the shores of Loch Linnhe is now nearing completion. Work comprised an extensive refurbishment of the original house interior and wood fibre insulation wrap to the exterior, set against contemporary timber and zinc clad extensions. These create extensive new living areas and capture the breathtaking views across the landscape. 

As works to the historic Glasite Meeting House continue apace, HLA are excited to announce that we are working with Ingleby Gallery to restore and refurbish this beautiful building as a new contemporary art gallery for Edinburgh's city centre.

Further information can be found here: http://bit.ly/2GzM4Xo

HLA are delighted to have received planning permission for a large family home in the Scottish Borders. The property is currently a ruin, having served as a farm house and stable block until the 1930's. The new home will feature an indoor pool, private sheltered courtyard garden, and will focus on views across the surrounding landscape.

HLA are delighted that two of our projects (Frisealach and Taigh Na Coille) have been included in a new book by Peter Wilson, focussing on contemorary timber construction around the UK.

We are delighted to announce that works at Bread Street are almost complete. Keep your eyes peeled for The Fat Pony, a new wine bar opening to the public in the very near future. Almost all of the elements in the bar are bespoke and crafted locally; from the Douglas Fir shuttering and mild steel detailing, to the fabric panelling and folded metal light fittings . The Fat Pony will offer a unique selection of wines, charcuterie, small plates and more.

Images of the completed project can be found here.

On the 28th May, Helen Lucas Architects will be taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, raising money for Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland (IFDAS). Split into 3 relay teams, we have a total of 12 runners. If you would like to support these efforts, please donate to the cause below.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/helenlucas5

HLA are delighted to have received Planning Permission for an attic extension at a house in the Coltbridge and Wester Coates Conservation Area. The property was previously extended for the same owners by Helen Lucas Architects in 2009.

HLA are delighted to have received Planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the renovation and extension of a B-listed Victorian villa in the Merchiston and Greenhill Conservation Area. Extending into an unused existing void space, the proposal strives to reorganise the villa to adapt to the needs of modern living; a generous kitchen-dining space overlooks the leafy front garden, whilst new decking and openings accentuate the relationship between the house and the redesigned rear garden.

A quadripartite window to the front elevation is composed to match the existing fenestration; the verticality and generous proportions are a contemporary articulation of the original early Victorian facade.

The renovation and extension of this house in Merchiston, Edinburgh is now nearing compeltion. Work has included the formation of new zinc clad extensions to the rear of the house, as well as extensive Lithomex stone repairs, which beautifully match the original building fabric.

HLA are delighted to have received Planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the renovation and change of use of a C-listed mews house in the Dean Conservation Area, Edinburgh.

The dilapidated garage space is to be insulated and converted into a spacious one-bed home. A new opening to the rear reveals the stunning backdrop of the Dean Village and Water of Leith.

Originally designed as a row of stables in the late 19th Century, our proposal strives to retain the character of the original timber coach doors. A contemporary adaptation of the street elevation provides clerestory light, a hidden window concealed by a shutter, and a new place to sit and enjoy the sun.

HLA were pleased to attend the formal opening of new practice rooms at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland yesterday. The new practice rooms have already proved popular, and initial feedback from staff and students has been very positive.

HLA have very much enjoyed working with the Royal Conservatoire and the project team and hope that their new Creative Campus is an asset to this lively and thriving institution.

The opening has been covered by both the BBC and The Herald.

HLA would like to wish our clients and colleagues warm wishes for the festive period, and a happy new year to come.

Helen Lucas Architects entered a recent competition by Highland Council for the design of three roadside shelters at Locharron, Achnasheen and Braemar Junction.

Taking the view, orientation to the sun and exposure to the surrounding environment as the inspiration, the project sought to provide places of ‘prospect and refuge’ for visitors to the area. The shelters used a combination of local materials and pre-fabrication to make construction and repair as easy as possible in these often remote locations. 

Although we were not shortlisted in the final three entrants we very much enjoyed developing these proposals.

HLA were pleased to revisit our project at Woodhall Road, Edinburgh 18 months after practical completion. The garden-room features a postless corner, allowing open views and access to the adjacent garden.

We have recently completed this new build family home in the Swanston area of Edinburgh. The house is designed to nestle into it’s sloping site whilst maximising the views of the Pentland hills beyond.  The orientation and form of the dwelling creates two private courtyards allowing the occupants to enjoy the morning and evening sun both outside and in the principal living area. 

Our project at Hillend is currently up for sale, and is still looking fantastic after 11 years! Please contact the current owners through HLA to receive further information.

We are pleased to announce our appointment by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for a £1.6m refurbishment at their headquarters in Glasgow. Having been awarded 6th in the world for performing arts eduction, R.C.S.’s enduring popularity has led to an increase in student numbers.

 

The project involves internal reconfiguration of the prominent Renfrew Street building designed by Sir Leslie Martin, and introduction of new windows to the existing elevations to provide a number of acoustically high-performance individual and ensemble practice rooms. Also included are gathering spaces to support social and creative interaction, the lifeblood of The Conservatoire’s unique student output. 

 

H.L.A. look forward to working with R.C.S. to provide spaces which inspire students and are worthy of this internationally acclaimed institution.

The Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland has been included in the "Architectural Guide to the North Coast 500 with meanderings" produced by the Inverness Architectural Association in celebration of the Festival of Architecture 2016.  The NC 500 is a recently established tourist route that passes the hotel.  It comprises of a 500 mile route from Inverness, up the west coast and back via the rugged north coast taking in some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery.  Copies of the booklet area available in tourist centers, arts venues and the RIAS bookshop in Edinburgh.

We are pleased to announce that as of 1st April 2016 Helen Lucas Architects became a Limited Company.

Having moved into our new office in 2015, we are excited to be progressing a range of new and varied projects due on site this year.

Helen Lucas Architects are delighted to announce that 3 members of staff have recently passed their final professional examinations.

We are delighted to have received planning permission for a new build house in Belhaven, East Lothian.

The house will sit at the rear of a long plot with a narrow plan to nestle into the shape of the site. It is split into two main components separated by a modest entrance courtyard. The walls will be clad in brick to match neighbouring buildings, and timber cladding left untreated to grey gradually and blend into the leafy garden surroundings.

Helen Lucas Architects have now moved in to newly refurbished offices at 31-35 Marchmont Road.

HLA are delighted to announce the promotions of Clare Armstrong, Lucy Sacker and Claire Metivier to the position of Associate.

They will continue to work as a Project Architects but will now also take on a wider role within the practice.

Helen Lucas was recently invited by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to discuss the practice of Architecture in the UK. In the podcast Helen shares her unique perspective on the profession, the workplace, sustainability, and what made her originally want to become an Architect. 

Click here to listen to the podcast

On the 31st May, Helen Lucas Architects will be taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, raising much needed funds for earthquake victims in Nepal. Split into 2 relay teams, our running will support the work of Mercy Corps. To support these efforts, please donate to the cause below.

Helen Lucas Architects at JustGiving

HLA can confirm that Helen Lucas will be participating in the Royal Society of Architects in Wales Spring School 2015. Discussing some of our most recent projects around Scotland, Helen will be joined by Valerie Mulvin and Chris Loyn amongst others.

We are very happy with the latest stair installation at our project in Dollar, Clackmannanshire. The continuous handrail and dark treads contrast with the decoration, and the post-less construction allows the light to flood into the newly formed space through spindle balusters.

We are delighted to have received planning permission for this new build house in the south of Edinburgh. Set over 2 levels, the transparency of the elevations visually connect the interior spaces with 2 new courtyard gardens, whilst the upper roof terrace takes in fantastic views to the Pentland Hills.

After a busy winter on site, HLA are delighted to announce that the Phase 1 of our Kylesku Hotel project is complete, with the hotel bar and restaurant open for business! Thanks to some fantastic weather our latest site meeting was held on the deck, in the warm sunshine.

We were pleased to see our two complementary rear extensions to a villa in the Grange taking shape. The Summer House is clad in pre-patinated copper. The same material is also used to hightlight a slot picture window on the stone extension, which houses a new bathroom and utility. 

A 100m2 extension to a Georgian House in Northern Fife starts to take shape on site.

The dual pitch of the roof allows for a sheltered external area, which takes advantage of the southern exposure whilst providing internal shading during the summer months. 

Stonework is nearing completion at our garden room extension at a C-listed house in Colinton, Edinburgh. With wide, postless-corner glazing, this space will provide fantastic views across the adjacent garden.

Helen Lucas Architects were delighted to attend the 2014 Inverness Architectural Association Convention on Skye. Enjoyable presentations included those by Hugh Strange, Jonathan Hendry and Malcolm Fraser amongst others, as well as a talk by Helen Lucas entitled 'Building on the Edge'.

The office was delighted to be awarded a Commendation for Best Use of Timber at our Croft House, Stoer, which was collected by Project Architect Claire Metivier.

Practical Completion has been certified at the garden room extension at Stanhope Place in Edinburgh.  The roof has been designed so evening sun can still reach the sheltered east corner of the site which is the perfect spot for a gin and tonic.

This listed gatehouse was completed two years ago.  Our phographer has been back to photograph it now the cladding has weathered and the garden has matured.  More details of the project at Grange Loan can be seen on our main website.

A workers cottage in west Edinburgh has been transformed by a full width rear extension.  The zinc extension perches on top of the existing stone work giving the back of this previously cramped property a complete overhaul.

A party was held at the site of the new Conacher Reynolds house to celebrate the completion of the foundations.  The neat concrete pads will support the green oak frame giving a light touch on the sloping landscape overlooking the sea.

We have recently completed an extension to a house on a corner within the Portobello conservation area.

Helen Lucas Architects have received plannning permission for a new low energy house in rural Midlothian. The house will feature an air source heat pump, rainwater harvesting and solar panels. The building will be clad with lime render, larch boarding and standing seam zinc roofing.

Grange Loan has been awarded a commendation in the Alterations, Renovation and Extension category of the Saltire Society Housing Awards.

Helen Lucas Architects have been providing placements  for school students through Edinburgh University's Pathways to the Professions programme for a number of years. There is now a film!

 

Our recently completed project at Grange Loan has recieved a commendation at the Saltire Awards.

Helen Lucas Architects are happy to announce that Ros Livingstone has been promoted to Associate.

Ros, who has been working with the practice since 2008, will continue to work as a Project Architect but will now also take on various administrative and managerial roles within the practice.