Leith Workshop
The refurbishment of a former vehicle repair workshop in Leith.
The project transforms a tired industrial unit into a light-filled, robust and energy-efficient space suited to a range of future uses. The existing building is retained and clarified, maintaining its straightforward, utilitarian character while improving performance and internal quality. The aim is to create a flexible space that can adapt over time without losing its industrial identity.
Externally, the building is redefined through a restrained palette of metal cladding and a large weathering steel sliding door, providing a durable and low-maintenance envelope. A new insulated roof and upgraded wall build-up form a continuous thermal jacket, improving performance while responding to the surrounding lane of working garages and workshops.
Internally, materials are kept simple and hardwearing. A terrazzo floor accommodates occasional vehicular use, while timber wall linings conceal a compact kitchenette and WC. Compressed wood fibre panels introduce warmth and acoustic control, and the existing roof structure is retained and painted to preserve a sense of the building’s past. New rooflights bring daylight deep into the space, supporting a bright and adaptable interior.