Liam Thomas Findlay

Abstract

The Craighall site is situated on a belt of previously agricultural land now designated for urban sprawl of low-density, single use (residential) developments and the extension of a very modern university ‘business park’ campus.

The CHoF campus proposal attempts to connect these communities together by providing a flexible urban plaza alongside a nature reserve- promoting the concept a of a public commons. This space, designated for intergenerational activity, will be serviced by the junction of a higher-density, mixed-use, new urban high street, and a green promenade. The proposed high street establishes a dialogue that stretches between the modern QMU campus and the historical Musselburgh coast. Perpendicular to this axis, the green promenade connects the proposed housing communities to the amenities provided by the CHoF campus and new high street, which they currently lack.

The extra-care accommodation blocks will be constructed with natural materials to create a sense of engagement with nature for the wellbeing of the elderly residents. The North block will be grounded on a stone plinth to form an acoustic barrier to combat the noise of the railway, whilst the south block will appear floating to create a sense of permeability, through which, the public will be encouraged to circulate, thus increasing intergenerational engagement. The construction of the blocks will cause little disruption to neighbours due to the prefabricated CLT volume module assembly.

Project Team

Liam Thomas Findlay, David Loan Droc, Meiwen Sun, Zhuo He, Luhan Bai.