Contemporary mews houses with reclaimed brick and red zinc cladding along a cobblestone street.

A row of contemporary mews houses with a mix of reclaimed brick and red zinc cladding, featuring wooden garage doors along a cobblestone street.

Modern building with brick and red zinc exterior, featuring a garage with a car inside.
Exterior view of a building with reclaimed brick and red zinc cladding, featuring large windows.
Exterior view of a modern building with reclaimed brick and red zinc cladding, large windows, and a sloped roof, with bare tree branches and greenery in the foreground.
Contemporary building with red zinc cladding and reclaimed brick facade, surrounded by greenery.
Cobblestone street with brick buildings and modern red zinc addition, stone wall, and utility pole with wires.
Modern building with brick facade, red zinc upper storey, large windows, and wooden garage doors. Person with bicycle at entrance.
Modern building facade with reclaimed brick, red zinc cladding, timber garage door, entrance, and a parked bicycle.
Modern building exterior with brick facade, wooden garage door, recessed entrance, and red zinc roof with windows.
Close-up of a building facade with reclaimed brick and vertical timber cladding.
Close-up of a brick wall corner with wooden paneling and cobblestone pavement.
Outdoor courtyard with stone wall and glass door leading to an interior room with a chair.
Interior view of a modern space with a wooden staircase and glass doors leading to a courtyard.
Interior hallway with skylight, light wood flooring, white metal railing, and a dining area in the background.
Interior hallway with wooden bench, potted plant, and staircase.
Interior view of a modern home with a wooden staircase, glass door leading to an outdoor courtyard with a chair and plants, and red zinc wall.
Modern living room with abstract painting, coffee table, woven chair, and sliding glass door to patio.
Minimalist living room with dark sofa, wooden chair, coffee table, abstract painting, potted plant, floor lamp, and large window.
Interior view of a modern home with a staircase, green sofa, and coffee table.
Minimalistic bedroom with bed, wooden chair, small table with vase, and abstract art on the wall.
Bedroom with large glass door to courtyard, featuring a bed, bedside table, and abstract art.
Minimalist interior with wooden chair, side table, coffee table, abstract painting, and large window showing outdoor courtyard.
Interior view showing a sliding glass door opening to a courtyard with a bench and plants, featuring red zinc cladding.
Interior of a modern home with a hallway, skylight, and dining area.
Minimalist dining area with wooden furniture and large windows.
Interior view of a minimalist dining area with a wooden table, chairs, a pendant lamp, and a skylight.
Modern kitchen interior with central island, wooden stool, light cabinetry, and large window.
Minimalist interior with wooden dining table, chairs, pendant light, and potted plant on wooden floor.
Modern kitchen interior with central island, sleek cabinetry, and built-in appliances.
Modern kitchen interior with large window overlooking a terrace with red exterior wall and outdoor seating.
Interior with skylight, wooden beams, artwork, and white railing.
Minimalist interior with a wooden desk, chair, lamp, and abstract art on the wall.
Minimalist bedroom with a bed, window, side table, lamp, and abstract art.
Modern bathroom with gray stone tiles, wall-mounted sink, backlit mirror, and potted plant.
Modern bathroom with bathtub, wall-mounted sink, and heated towel rail. Walls have small vertical tiles and larger stone tiles.
Architectural floor plans of two plots, labeled Plot 1 and Plot 2, showing ground and first floors with detailed room layouts.
Floor plan of a two-story house with labeled rooms and spaces including living room, bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, courtyards, and roof terraces.
Floor plan of a two-story house with labeled rooms and areas.
Section drawing of a multi-level residential building with garage, living spaces, and bedrooms.

Story

Reimagining Urban Living in Edinburgh Canon Mews represents a thoughtful reimagining of the traditional mews house, situated in the historic context of Edinburgh's Canonmills. This architect-led development by Pend transforms a constrained brownfield site into two three-bedroom homes, each wrapped around a private courtyard. Drawing inspiration from Tadao Ando’s Row House, the design employs internal courtyards and terraces to maximize light and privacy, creating a serene urban retreat. The homes are constructed with reclaimed bricks, meticulously cleaned and reassembled, preserving the site's historical narrative. Complemented by red zinc on the upper storey, the material palette offers a warm, contemporary contrast. Internally, the spaces are designed with robust materials like porcelain tiles and solid timber, ensuring durability and comfort. Each home includes generous living areas, integrated garages, and energy-efficient features such as solar PV and EV charging, making them both sustainable and desirable.

Design Highlights

Private outdoor courtyards providing natural light and privacy Use of reclaimed bricks and red zinc for a rich material palette Integrated garages and generous living spaces Energy-efficient features including solar PV and EV charging Inspired by Tadao Ando’s Row House with internal courtyards

Key Facts

Detail Information
Location Edinburgh, Scotland
Construction Start October 2025
Completion January 2026
Gross Internal Floor Area 265 square metres
Construction Cost £775,000
Main Contractor Gloss Projects
Structural Engineer Harley Haddow
Photographer Lorenzo Zandri

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • flooring: The ground floor is finished in a robust porcelain tile with underfloor heating.
  • wall: The walls feature a combination of reclaimed brick and red zinc cladding.

Materials

  • brick — Facade construction using reclaimed bricks.
  • zinc — Cladding for the upper storey and roofline.
  • timber — Cladding for garages and entrance vestibules.
  • porcelain — Flooring on the ground floor.

Construction / Systems

  • structural: Constructed as a highly insulated timber frame.

Products

  • energy — solar PV (Energy efficiency)

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: red, natural wood tones
  • Lighting: Natural light is maximized through large windows and internal courtyards.

Similar projects

More related projects

Projects by the architect

View Pend

No other projects found for this architect yet.