21 Melville Street, Edinburgh is a two phase project, comprising of the refurbishment, fit out and extension of a Category A listed building for use as an office, and the building of a new Mews House to the rear of the existing project.

For the refurbishment, the aim was to retain all the existing features, whilst creating a comfortable and contemporary working environment. The building had previously been used by the same client, but the layout was unsatisfactory and a 1970’s fit-out on the basement level, had been completely inappropriate for the sensitive aesthetic of the historic building. The new scheme creates a bright open plan office space, new storage facilities and a meeting room in the glass box extension.

The Mews House involved designing a building that would fit into the traditional aesthetic of the conservation area, whilst also providing a versatile contemporary space within. The front façade utilises traditional Scottish mews house details, including a Pend, whilst the rear façade facing the existing building keeps the same scale, but utilizes a more modern aesthetic with timber slats and sliding glazed doors.