News

SPACES BETWEEN BUILDINGS – ASSIST JOIN FORCES WITH GEHL ARCHITECTS FOR WESTER HAILES MASTERPLAN26/02/2010

Further to Assist’s Edinburgh office’s appointment onto the Rowan Group Framework, we have been working with Prospect Community Housing on the development of a Masterplan for a brownfield site at Harvester’s Way in Wester Hailes.

The proposed mixed-use development includes an NHS Lothian Healthy Living Centre designed by JM Architects, with flexible commercial space and approximately 100 homes designed by Assist Architects for Prospect Community Housing. The site, located to the south of the current Wester Hailes town centre, has lain empty for about 15 years since the demolition of several nine-storey high emergency housing blocks constructed in the 1950s.

As part of a wider initiative to mesh the proposed development into the existing neighbourhoods and the town centre, a series of Placemaking workshops have been held with key consultants and stakeholders. These workshops have been facilitated by internationally renowned Urban Quality Consultants, Gehl Architects of Copenhagen.

Scottish architect David Sim is a senior consultant and director at Gehl Architects. Working alongside David, Assist have established a series of key design principles aimed at ensuring good quality public space design within the proposed masterplan, with a view to submitting for Planning Approval later this year.

Back to News homepage ››