7N Architects become an Employee Owned Business
7N Architects are pleased to share that, as we mark our 15th successful year of practice, we have become an Employee Owned Business.
After many years of steady growth and establishing ourselves as one of Scotland’s leading independent architectural practices, this transition will secure our long term future for the years ahead.
Founding Director Ewan Anderson has transferred 100% of his ownership shareholding to an Employee Owned Trust (EOT) that will act on behalf of all of the studio’s 24 employees. Often referred to as the ‘John Lewis’ model, the EOT structure allows every member of our team to share in the future success of the practice.
Our practice’s leadership team has been expanded with Ben Watson and Craig Tait joining Ewan Anderson on the Board as Directors. They will work in conjunction with a Board of Trustees that includes an independent Chair, John Hume, and 7N team members Laura Adamson and Lisa Blyth, both of whom were elected by their fellow employees.
As one of the founder members of the practice, Lisa has seen the team grow from 7 to 24 people and described the recent process: “The whole employee ownership transition was a hugely insightful experience that showed how all of our employees could play a significant role in the future of the practice. All team members took part in a variety of workshops that ranged from, how to define our purpose statement, to exploring what kind of work will be the focus of the studio in the future. The flexible and democratic structure will ensure the collegiate and pro-active culture of the studio continues to flourish at 7N Architects.”
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Carole Leslie of Ownership Associates UK for guiding us so well through the process, as well as TLT LLP for legal advice, and Alan Watt of Reference Point for financial advice.
It is an exciting time for the practice. This announcement gives us an opportunity to look forward to a bright future, which has been created from everyone’s hard work and talents, and one where all employees will collectively benefit from the team’s continued success.
A sustainable and inclusive living environment
Jordanhill Park is a reflection of the growing emphasis on brownfield regeneration by the house-builder market. The principles of NPF4 are embedded through measures that help implement climate resilience, ecological enhancement, and the sustainable reuse of land, in ways that support both biodiversity and compact urban growth.
• People-first design: Streets and spaces that prioritise residents.
• Enriched green spaces: Expanded and accessible parkland, with significant new tree planting.
• Respect for heritage: New buildings that complement the Grade-B listed David Stow Building’s historic character.
• Thoughtful materials: Tones and textures chosen to harmonise with the existing architecture, ensuring longevity in our interventions.
This expansive project typifies 7N’s commitment to placemaking that delivers value for people, nature, and the future. Many years in the making, it is great to reach this stage so that we can take a moment to pause and reflect on what has been achieved with our client, @calahomes.
@simpsonandbrown
@goodsonassociates
Hulley & Kirkwood
Photographs by @davidbarbour
Preserving history and creating strong new connections
Our masterplan for 406 homes at Jordanhill Park, developed in close collaboration with CALA Homes West, is shaped around the Grade-B listed David Stow Building, a landmark with its iconic copper towers. Now thoughtfully restored and repurposed, this building remains central to the site’s identity and has been safeguarded for future generations through careful refurbishment, which has been made possible by the surrounding new-build development.
The new homes are designed to harmonize with the landscape and the historic structures. Terraced townhouses create shared streets that frame views of the natural surroundings and connect to a central linear park. Detached houses form a permeable edge around the site, offering expansive views across the city, while the apartment buildings are nestled among mature trees, designed to feel like contemporary pavilions within the landscape.
@simpsonandbrown
@goodsonassociates
Hulley & Kirkwood
Photographs by @davidbarbour
Aerial photograph by @calahomes
Jordanhill Park: New Homes in an Historic Parkland
As we continue our series on recent residential projects, we are pleased to share an update on our collaboration with CALA Homes West at the former Jordanhill College campus in Glasgow’s West End.
The historic parkland setting has been reimagined as a vibrant neighbourhood with 406 homes, including townhouses, apartments, and detached houses. Two historic buildings on the site have also been carefully restored and reconfigured to ensure they are safeguarded for future generations.
Over 200 homes are now complete, and we’re excited to share new photographs of this unique development in the coming days.
@calahomes
@simpsonandbrown
@goodsonassociates
Hulley & Kirkwood
Photographs by @davidbarbour
Site Plan by 7N Architects
Touching Lightly on the Ground
Offering a diverse range of detached villas and terraced townhouses, our Edmonstone Woods development presents a harmonious blend of family-friendly living spaces. Each home type is characterised by a palette of natural and durable materials that echo the tones and textures of the surrounding landscape.
The mix of housing has been developed with a focus on family living, with all proposed houses providing four bedrooms. Living areas are strategically positioned to maximise views into surrounding woodland, or across Little France Park and towards Arthur’s Seat. Every home benefits from private gardens and access to high-quality shared amenity spaces
The team have really enjoyed working on these proposals and we look forward to seeing progress over the next stages and into 2025.
Scott Hobbs Planning Limited
@lucinsider
@atelier_ten
Will Rudd
@rettieandco
Visualisations by @7n.architects
Living in the Woodland
7N’s proposal for 27 family homes within Edmonstone Woods thoughtfully integrates the residences into the natural landscape, offering a distinct living experience. Each home is designed to harmonise with the woodland surroundings, ensuring high standards of quality, comfort, and accessibility in an immersive, nature-focused setting
The complex array of constraints necessitated careful planning to avoid disturbance to mature trees, ancient woodland, as well as the footprint of the historic Edmonstone House and remnants of its stables. As a result, the proposed homes are sensitively integrated into the woodland, arranged along two pedestrian-focused streets and offering extensive views of the surrounding trees. Vehicle movements are carefully controlled around the perimeter of the site, minimizing disruption to the natural setting and prioritizing active travel options for residents.
Scott Hobbs Planning Limited
@lucinsider
@atelier_ten
Will Rudd
@rettieandco
Drawings & photograph by @7n.architects
Edmonstone Woods – Sensitive Housing within a Unique Setting
7N Architects have submitted fresh proposals for Phase 5 of the Edmonstone Masterplan in South West Edinburgh on behalf of a private investor client, which will create 27 family homes within the distinctive woodland setting of Edmonstone Woods.
The proposals have been developed in response to changing market demands, from an earlier apartment-led scheme, to one with a lighter touch within this unique site. The approach sensitively nestles the new homes within the woodland environment to create a forest community that is woven into the existing network of woodland trails. The layout of the site and the landscape design, developed with LUC, addresses a complex array of existing conditions, which required careful responses to mature trees, ancient woodland, an interpretation of the footprint of the historic Edmonstone House, as well as the remnants of its former stables buildings.
Scott Hobbs Planning
@lucinsider
@atelier_ten
Will Rudd
Visualisations by @daakostudio
Making it easy to live sustainably
Rowanbank Gardens’ architectural form re-establishes the street edge, using high-quality materials and robust detailing to create a strong civic presence. This perimeter backdrop frames a central landscaped courtyard, fostering a sense of community and tranquillity within the development. A variety of roof forms accentuate the residential character and respond thoughtfully to the site’s diverse surroundings.
Central to the project’s vision of placemaking is a pragmatic and accessible approach to sustainable living. By prioritising passive design strategies, the development thoughtfully anticipates future lifestyles through considerations of how people will work, move, socialize, and manage energy in years to come. This is exemplified in the way the building responds to energy use, the encouragement of green transport means, the creation of social green spaces in an urban context, and low energy solutions.
The project was one of the first large scale residential projects in Scotland to utilise internal Electric Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) within apartments. These individual ASHP’s provide individual control over energy use for residents, reducing heat density demand, extensive pipe runs, and the associated heat loss that is typically associated with centralized heating networks. The development achieves an average 50% reduction in energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to the Target Emission Rates set by the Scottish Technical Standards, a success that makes us enormously proud.
Main Contractor: @crudenhomes
Project management: Axiom Project Services
Structural engineer: Quattro Consult
M&E engineer: @atelier_ten
Landscape Architect: @rankinfraserlandscapearch
Drawings: @7n.architects Architects
How do we create sustainable communities?
A desire to create a sense of community was the heart of our brief for Rowanbank Gardens from @artisan_real_estate. As a client, they recognised the importance of creating a place where people not just want to live, but can also make it feel truly their own.
This approach aligned with 7N’s view that a development is most sustainable when the occupants to have an emotional attachment to their home. Emotive notions such as ‘a sense of place’ emerge strongest when social activities are actively encouraged and people are allowed to define their spaces, rather than be defined by them.
The south-facing courtyard garden at Rowanbank Gardens has quickly become a hub for daily interactions, where residents share experiences and form connections. In a short time, we have witnessed the emergence of social groups and the blossoming of a vibrant local community.
The project’s ‘tenure-blind’ design has further enhanced its quality, with private and affordable apartments finished to the same high standard. This inclusive approach has enhanced the reception of the development across a wide range of residents, from social housing, through mid-market, first-time buyers, families, and down-sizers. For us, this validates our approach to placing community at the heart of placemaking and the value that this brings to any development.
Main Contractor: @crudenhomes
Project management: Axiom Project Services
Structural engineer: Quattro Consult
M&E engineer: @atelier_ten
Landscape Architect: @rankinfraserlandscapearch
Photograph 1: @davidbarbour
Site Plan: 7N Architects
Photograph 3: @leoparedesphoto
Rowanbank Gardens - A new community centred on sustainable living
Our Rowanbank Gardens project reached completion this summer, a significant achievement and one that we were delighted to celebrate with our client Artisan Real Estate. This brownfield project was designed with a comprehensive focus on environmental, economic, and social sustainability, and has garnered notable recognition, winning awards such as RICS ‘Scottish Residential Development of the Year’ and the Scottish Home Awards ‘Apartment Development of the Year.’
Rowanbank Gardens features 126 new mixed-tenure homes, including a high proportion of family accommodation, around a vibrant residents’ courtyard garden. This shared landscape serves as the natural heart of the community, complete with communal growing beds and fruit trees that have become key amenities for new residents.
The homes incorporate an industry leading all-electric and fabric-first approach, paired with sustainable systems such as heat recovery to minimise energy use. As a result, Rowanbank Gardens achieves carbon dioxide emission rates well below current regulatory requirements.
Seeing this pioneering low-carbon development come to life and set a new benchmark for Edinburgh has been immensely rewarding. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the project over the years, especially our client, @artisan_real_estate, and our design team.
Main Contractor: @crudenhomes
Project management: Axiom Project Services
Structural engineer: Quattro Consult
M&E engineer: @atelier_ten
Landscape Architect: @rankinfraserlandscapearch
Photograph 1: @leoparedesphoto
Photographs 2 & 3: @davidbarbour
Our autumn newsletter is out!
Check out our latest update for 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.
See the link in our profile.
Newly qualified architects!
We’re really pleased to start our week with the news 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.
Rowanbank Gardens continues to make an impact with awards and has recently been nominated for the Chartered Institute of Housing ‘Scotland Housing Awards 2024’.
A finalist in the ‘Excellence in regeneration and sustainability’ category, this nomination recognises the importance of the project in helping to revitalise communities with sustainable designs that make a real difference in people’s lives.
We’re also pleased to share that we have received some wonderful completion shots from @davidbarbour and we’ll be publishing more of these in the coming weeks.
With thanks to the project team:
@artisan_real_estate
Wheatley Homes East
@rankinfraserlandscapearch
@atelier_ten
@crudenhomes
Axiom Project Services
Quattro Consult