Welcome to 7N Architects’ quarterly newsletter.
We hope that this will give you a window into some of the exciting things that have been keeping us busy and inspired.
This edition: masterplans from Shetland to Seafield, an update on our transformative project at Fraser Avenue in Fife, and celebating new qualifications for our team members.
A new coastal neighbourhood for Seafield in Edinburgh
A masterplan designed by 7N Architects to transform the north-east Edinburgh area of Seafield into a new climate resilient coastal neighbourhood, has been published by the City of Edinburgh Council. The proposals set out a vision where low-intensity commercial use of a section of Edinburgh’s coastline is transformed into a residential-led and mixed-use neighbourhood of up to 2,700 mixed-tenure homes. By strengthening connections to nearby communities of Leith, Portobello, and Craigentinny, the project aims to create a more integrated and sustainable seafront destination.
At the heart of the new neighbourhood is the reinvigorated promenade alongside a new seafront park. These civic spaces form integral parts of the masterplan’s climate change resilience strategy, embedded throughout all aspects of the proposals and specifically designed to address the challenge of rising sea levels.
The masterplan team was led by 7N Architects in collaboration with RankinFraserLandscapeArchitecture, Max Fordham, Cundall and Nick Wright Planning, and follows extensive engagement with the local community and representative groups. In September, the proposal was approved by the Council’s planning committee for the next stage of consultation and we look forward to the next stages.
Visualisation by DAAKO
New planning application to continue our transformative placemaking project at Fraser Avenue
We have recently submitted a detailed planning application for Phase 3 of our long-running regeneration project at Fraser Avenue in Inverkeithing, Fife. The proposals follow from the success of Phases 1 & 2 (completed in 2021) in the wider site masterplan that was developed by 7N Architects. Phase 3, the final stage of the development, will deliver an additional 44 affordable dwellings for Kingdom Housing Association and Campion Homes.
Our work in Fraser Avenue has received multiple awards over the years and we are immensely proud of the substantial change that it has achieved for the community, a community that played a vital part in the journey. Architecture & Design Scotland described the project: “The regeneration of Fraser Avenue can be seen as a tangible model for the delivery of new and replacement affordable housing, breaking from the stigma of the past to create a place populated by people who want to rebuild and feel invested in the community in which they live.”
Shetland Islands Council vote to approve 7N’s masterplan for a complex site in Lerwick’s historic town centre
The site within Lerwick’s steep historic Lanes was cleared in the 1970s and had since been developed in an ad-hoc manner, with social housing, car parking and a temporary community garden. When it was determined by the council that the housing had reached end of its useful life and required replacing, an opportunity arose to restore and improve town centre living with a range of tenures and typologies.
The project involved extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders including the community, the council, local businesses, and schools to understand their views on the existing condition and the future of the site. The clear direction from the consultation was a solution that found a balance between all three existing uses; housing, parking and community garden; whilst restoring the character and quality of place that make the Lanes such an important part of Lerwick’s identity.
We really enjoyed working in the unique environment of Shetland again, following our award winning housing masterplan for the former Anderson High School at the Knab in Lerwick, and look forward to seeing both projects progressing in the near future.
West Town & what a 20-minute neighbourhood looks like
“Fundamental human needs to engage with others have not changed greatly over the centuries. This understanding is at the heart of the development of 7N’s masterplan at West Town, creating a placemaking framework for a new 20 minute neighbourhood that future residents can make their own.”
As part of the latest RIAS Quarterly publication on urban housing, 7N’s Lisa Blyth and Amy Drabble were invited to contribute with an article exploring the themes that influenced the design of our West Town project.
The masterplan for the Drum Property Group, for 68 hectares of land on the western edge of the City of Edinburgh, will contribute 7,000 homes and associated mixed-uses to help address Edinburgh’s acute housing needs. In scale alone, West Town represents one of the most significant urban expansions of any Scottish city in decades and one of the largest urban developments currently in planning in the UK.
Lisa and Amy describe in the article how our team’s experience and placemaking approach, enabled us to tackle a project of this scale in a manner that keeps people at the heart of the all decisions — a people first approach to create pleasant streets and spaces that facilitate walking and the spontaneous play and social interaction that comes with having a walkable neighbourhood. The result is a place where a parent would feel comfortable letting their 7-year-old walk, wheel or cycle to school.
We’d like to thank the RIAS Quarterly editorial team for including this feature in their publication and we hope you enjoy reading it.
Newly Qualified Architects
We’re really pleased to share that three of our team have recently completed their Part Three exams and are now fully qualified Architects. Please join us in congratulating Alex Angus, Magda Wloczka, and Gabriella Togni!
Alex, a passionate advocate for civic design and sustainable construction, has been a valuable member of the 7N team since 2021. With previous experience in Copenhagen, she has made significant contributions to our workplace projects in recent years.
Magda joined 7N in 2022, bringing a wealth of technical expertise to our team. Having previously worked in Birmingham, she completed her studies at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. Since joining 7N, Magda has been heavily involved in the delivery of several of our recent residential projects.
Gabriella is particularly interested in the intersection between design, sustainability, and supporting more ethical and healthy ways of living. As chair of the Sustainability Working Group since joining the team in 2021, Gabriella has led our research into innovative sustainable strategies.
We’re excited to see what the future holds for these talented architects and are proud to have them as part of the 7N team.