Designed by: Chambers McMillan Architects
Principal trade: Mark and Craig Logan Joinery
Awards / nominations: Small Project Award Winner - 2020 EAA Awards for Architecture, Single Dwelling Shortlist - 2021 Saltire Society Housing Design Awards, Works to Existing Commendation - 2022 Scottish Borders Design Awards
Photography by: David Barbour
Welcome to 161B - built as a church hall, previously a family business premises, and now my home!
I was invited to share the story of 161B as part of Doors Open Days, which takes places every September throughout Scotland, and is part of European Heritage Days. Information about the national programme can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk.
In fact, the story of 161B started on a Doors Open Days event in Portobello, where I visited the amazing home of my architects from Chambers McMillan and was inspired by their work and ethos. This is the story of where that Doors Open Day took us…
Church Hall Conversion
161B is a compact, accessible home, converted from a church hall that had been a children’s nursery, run by my Mum, for many of years. A courtyard was cut into side of the hall, bringing light into the building, and creating a connection between 161B at the front of the hall and its sister property at the back, 161C. With a modest footprint, the connections between the rooms make 161B feel spacious and airy.
Spaces were enhanced with colour, materials and objects that I chose because I loved them, including bespoke furniture I challenged the joiners to build, which they did brilliantly, and restored pieces, some of which were handed down to me from family.
Sustainability in mind
Creating an inclusive, accessible home was a goal I shared with my brilliant architects, and a ramped access from the street to a level ground floor, with kitchen and living space, main bedroom, wet room and snug / second bedroom help ensure that this can be a lifetime home.
Adaptive reuse was also key, altering the building from its original purpose as a commercial building into a domestic home, ensuring sustainability, embodying carbon, and creating longevity for future years. Converting in this way takes a lot of effort, love, sweat and sometimes a few tears, but it was worth it!
