A Little Goes A Long Way

A minimalist hideaway in the heart of Edinburgh adds up to more than the sum of its parts, thanks to skilful design and high-class craftsmanship

- Judy Diamond

How much is just enough? That was one of the questions facing young architecture practice Izat Arundell when working on plans to convert an 18th-century workshop in central Edinburgh. The pair, Eilidh Izat and Jack Arundell, had acquired what had once been a blacksmith’s forge in a tiny lane off the Grassmarket in the shadow of the castle, and wanted to turn it into what they describe as a “minimal holiday retreat”.

And “minimal” was the operative word: with a footprint of just 36 square metres, the site is as small as is legally permissible for turning into a dwelling. Would this be sufficient to allow them to incorporate the essentials – bathroom, bed and living area – without visitors feeling they were stuck in a rabbit hutch? Would the lack of elbow room result in a space that was just too spartan, too ascetic, even for lovers of pared-back style?

Six months of deliberations followed their acquisition of the site, during which various configurations were considered and rejected. In the meantime, the practice applied to change the use from commercial to residential. “Working within such a tight existing building created lots of problems,” recalls Arundell. “The use of the space was particularly hard to nail down.”