June 2009

Our Victoria Walk project almost got planning approval this month, but after 3 years of design and 8 months of negotiating with the Planners someone noticed at the last minute that one of the boxes on the application form hadn't been ticked so the Planning Committee deferred the whole application until next month. Ah the joys of red tape!! A new planning system comes into force from the start of August, so maybe there is hope for us yet, but first drafts of the new application form reveal it to be 24 pages long with more boxes to tick than ever before.

May 2009

Design work on a number of dental surgeries is steaming ahead, including the extension and refurbishment of Westport Dental Surgery in Linlithgow which has been submitted for planning. The new fit out of the Dalgety Bay Dental surgery has gone out to tender this month and we have also been appointed as architects for a new build dental surgery and apartments at Oxgangs, Edinburgh.

Also this month we have been working with The Demarco Trust to submit proposals for a new art gallery. We are bidding for £3 million grant from the Scottish Community Foundation 'Arts Building Prize'. Our scheme includes exhibition space to display the vast Demarco Art Collection, along with education and study spaces, a cafe and parkland.

EKJN are delighted to have been appointed to work on some conceptual master-plan proposals for a large (mostly council-owned) housing estate in Livingston. The estate's troubles have been widely publicised elsewhere so there's no need for us to go over them in detail here (see West Lothian Council's own website for further details). Everyone involved in the debate about the estate's future seems to agree that 'something' must be done.... EKJN's role is to help to bring the 'something' into a wee bit of focus.*

*[NB This is a correction to earlier text which implied that ALL the houses in the area have been condemned, an implication which - as the residents association were quick to remind us - is not correct!]

March 2009

New commisions this month include a dental surgery at Westerhailes in Edinburgh and the Jamieson House, Linlithgow

Architecture isn't all about pretty drawings, carboard models and design inspiration. It also involves mud, wellies, site helmets and perspiration to turn building projects into reality. Three projects under construction this month include the Finch house in Winchburgh (left), the Signorini house in Linlithgow (centre) and the Black house in Uphall.

EKJN celebrated Comic relief's red nose day in style, coming to work in our 'Sunday best'...£99 was collected for charity!

February 2009

We are pleased to announce that Ian McIntyre has been accepted into the Chartered Institute for Architectural Technologists as an associate member. Ian is currently working towards chartered membership.

Finally, after many months of negotiations, 3 redesigns and 2 planning committees, our own new office building in Linlithgow has been granted planning permission.

The process has been long but as a result we have learned much about the fascinating history of the former coal-sidings site. It was claimed that, following the assassination of the James Stuart, 1st Earl of Moray in 1570, the perpetrator James Hamilton fled from the scene of murder, across our site, and through a gap in our boundary wall. After much research it has been accepted that the wall mentioned in the legend is not our section of wall, meaning that we have been granted permission to develop the site.

Work has started on the Warrant drawings, and we hope to begin on site later this year.

Works at the new CSJ Factory and office building are progressing. (below)

Design work at Panmure House in edinburgh is underway:

The extenstion to the Thomson House has reached completion (below)

We are pleased to announce that our technologist Martin Robertson is now an Associate member of the Chartered Institute for Architectural Technologists.

January 2009

Our new newsletter is out! You can read it here. If you work in the medical profession and would like to read more about our projects in the health sector we have produced a special issue this year. You can read this here

Work is steaming ahead with a number of dental surgery projects. The decontamination facilities in the surgery on Linlithgow High Street are starting on site this week, and the drawings for two other surgeries have been submitted for Warrant. We have also been appointed as architects for 3 other dental surgeries, so more news soon.

Below: Proposals for Whitburn Dental Surgery

Works at the Turner House, Linlithgow are complete and our clients have now moved in. The new extention comprises a new open plan kitchen and family room, utilty room, garage plus improvments to the existing house.

Planning permission has been granted for a new shop front on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, and for a conversion of commercial units at Thistle Park.

December 2008

EKJN have been appointed as architects for the refurbishment of Panmure House, a 17th century town house in Edinburgh’s old town, and the former home of ‘Wealth of Nations’ author Adam Smith. The building is to become an international Business Centre for Heriot Watt University, incorporating the Adam Smith library.

EKJN have also been appointed as architects for the new Beecraigs Eco Centre, at the Beecraigs Country park near Linlithgow. The new building will incorporate a visitors centre and green technology educational centre.

Two domestic projects have just gone out to tender - the Finch House in Winchborough and the Brodie house in Queensferry.

Ian and Tracey had a spooky experience last week when they surveyed an old underground mortuary in Glasgow. There was no light at all, and they had to carry out the survey in the pitch dark using head torches. Lengthy discussions were had upon their return as they pored over mysterious circles that appeared on the photographs, and the strange malfuntioning of their equipment during the survey. Rather them than me.

November 2008

The steel frame for the new CSJ showroom and office in Falkirk is now erected. The finished building is due to be complete by spring 2009.

The new Massimo restaurant on Antigua Street, Edinburgh, opened last week. Despite the last minute rush to get things finished the opening party was a great success, and the restaurant looked fantastic. Work is still ongoing at Massimo's next new restuarant at Eurocentral, Glasgow.

Planning permission has been granted for a new shopfront on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, for Geoffry Kiltmakers.

The warrant has been granted for a large 3 storey extenstion and alterations at the Brodie House, Queensferry.

Other news: After years of doing our own hoovering, EKJN have finally employed a cleaner. Staff were amazed to find out that underneath the huge piles of paperwork and drawings we actually had lovely desks. The new 'tidy Friday' routine is currently enthusiastically adhered to - but for how long? Partner Ed Kelly was overheard saying 'I love the smell of polish in the morning', so perhaps he's turned over a new leaf?

October 2008

Planning permission has been granted for the Malloy House garden room.

After a long period of consultation, EKJN have submitted the Planning application for the Victoria Walk project in Linlithgow. This mixed use development on the site of the derelict Victoria Hall is a high profile project, and we expect it to feature regularly in this news section over the coming months. The entire submission, including all drawings and design statements can be viewed online via the West Lothian Council website.

Our weekend staff trip to the Highlands was a great success. We stuck to a packed itinerary which took us for a guided tour of the Russwood saw mills, then up to Sheildaig for a meal in the recently opened restaurant in the Tigh an Eilean Hotel. The next day we toured the new Culloden Visitor's Centre and the Maggie Centre in Inverness. Lots of architectural inspiration to be had, and lots of fun too.

Tracey wins a gold start this month! Her planning application for a garden room extension to the Black House, Uphall, was registered and then granted in just 16 days - surely an all time record!

The Building Warrant has now been granted for a new showroom, office and factory for CSJ Ltd in Falkirk. Construction will begin on site immediately.

Planning Applications have been submitted for the Malloy House, Linlithgow, and for EKJN's own new office at Avon Place, Linlithgow.(see sketch below)

The Building Warrant for Park Terrace, Brightons, Falkirk has been granted. The Park Terrace project is a 3 storey apartment building comprising nine units. See photo of model below:

September 2008

We are pleased to welcome Fiona Runciman, our new Practice Manager.

New website goes live!

A planning application was submitted for a refurbishment of a kilt shop on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

A building warrant had been granted for the Charlton House, Linlithgow.

EK:JN have been commissioned to design a new Bagpipe museum in Linthlithgow, as part of the Star and Garter Hotel.

We are pleased to announce that Martin Robertson and Tracey Muirhead have joined our practice. Both Tracey and Martin are experienced Architectural Technicans and have worked extensively in the commercial housing sector before joining us this month.

August 2008

Planning permission has been granted for a new extension to the Halliday House, Linlithgow.

EK:JN have donated £100 to the Linlithgow Christmas lights appeal.

EK:JN have been appointed to design a new restaurant for the Massimo chain of Restaurants. The new restaurant will be within the Eurocentral development in Glasgow. (See image below) This project follows hot on the heels of another EK:JN / Massimo restaurant currently on site on Antigua Street in Edinburgh, which is due to open in October of this year.

It has been announced that the offical opening of EK:JN's new bar and restaurant at the Tiah An Eilean Hotel in Shieldaig will take place in the first week of September.