The development site at 15-19 Raeburn Place, situated in Aberdeen’s Rosemount area, previously housed a wholesale lighting warehouse for many years. While the proposed development respects the footprint of the original buildings, it expands vertically to create a striking five-storey structure that maximizes the site’s potential.

Our architectural brief centred on creating contemporary serviced apartments comprising one and two-bedroom units that would address both Raeburn Place and Baker Street. The design features an innovative internal atrium that serves as the project’s focal point, seamlessly connecting the two building blocks while providing valuable amenity space and weather-protected access routes to all apartments.

The contemporary aesthetic emerges from a carefully curated material palette that balances modernity with contextual sensitivity. The primary street-facing elevations are elegantly wrapped in zinc cladding, while the internal courtyard surfaces feature crisp off-white smooth render. To establish a meaningful dialogue with the surrounding built environment, we specified granite cladding for the building’s base and the distinctive two-storey element fronting Raeburn Place, creating visual continuity with Aberdeen’s rich architectural heritage.

Constructability formed a cornerstone of our design strategy, particularly given that our client also served as the main contractor for the project. We selected a lightweight structural steel frame (SFS) system as the primary structural solution, enabling significant portions of the building to be prefabricated off-site. This approach not only accelerated the construction timeline but also enhanced quality control and reduced on-site disruption.

By balancing contemporary architectural expression with respect for local context, efficient construction methodology with design excellence, the development delivers a great addition to the Rosemount area.