We design architecture for all: inclusive, barrier free and participatory


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Disabled Scouts Lodge

Posted on: March 29th, 2019
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This project is to extend and convert an existing lodge, so that the Glasgow Disabled Scouts can use it more inclusively and accessibly. the idea is that outside and inside spaces will work well together,  enabling more of the Scouts outdoor activities and adventures to happen. The design process has been inclusive, with co-design creative workshops informing the building.

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Leith double upper

Posted on: March 28th, 2019
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A classic Leith double upper, which was working less well for the growing family, we gained large amounts of space by removing a lot of circulation, and connecting spaces in better ways. The house provides spaces for each individual member, including two teenagers, and their different activities, as well as communal social space to be a family.

“In chatting to Ian and Thea it soon became apparent that they had ideas about how to use space which would never occur to us. We know their own house, the Ramp House, and love the design, the quirkiness and use of materials so we knew we were in safe hands. Also, we knew if we just sat and talked about doing it it would never get done – so having Ian and Thea working on it has meant it did actually happen.”

 

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re-inventing the bungalow

Posted on: March 27th, 2019
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We were delighted to be granted planning this week for a bungalow in East Edinburgh – the design will enable the traditional bungalow to be re-invented, so that it will become a modern home that is a joy to live in.

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Dundee, The Yard

Posted on: March 25th, 2019
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An outdoor – indoor inclusive adventure play centre for disabled children and young people, their friends, and their families, The Yard Dundee will be designed as an enabling environment for all who use it. We are at concept design stage, a joint venture with JM Architects, Glasgow.

The Clients:

The Yard is an award-winning charity running adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families. They promote inclusive play to help disabled children and young people develop their full potential, confidence, self- esteem and life skills.

Process:

The project is an inclusive outdoor indoor adventure play centre in Dundee, providing disabled children and young people, their siblings and friends the chance to experience creative and adventurous play in a well supported environment. As designers, we knew that the children and young people’s involvement right from the start of the process would be crucial. We are currently at concept stage, having conducted a series of creative workshops that allow the children and young people both to communicate their needs for the spaces, and also to imagine how they want the spaces to be, feel, work, be experienced in a sensory way. As designers this process has enabled us to design a place that works for all the different needs of the children and young people, and also promotes ownership and belonging once they inhabit and use the building.

The Aim of the Building:

The benefits of creative adventure play for children are well documented. The Yard strongly believes disabled children should be offered the same opportunities as their peers to get involved in risky play to help them develop, learn and build friendships and find their own limits. This building will support this process, and has been designed as an enabling environment, where each child or young person finds the spaces they need. The building will contain spatial contrasts which will be especially important to children as part of their learning through exploration and free-play. How they experience these spaces will be what makes this an exceptional building. Spatial articulation and interconnectivity between spaces, where large open plan spaces encourage and enable play, but are also articulated to encourage slower experiences used by different people in different ways. Physical, aural, and visual connections provide a sense of security and independence which is important to the families who attend The Yard. Outside play is a crucial principle: designing so that the spaces outside and inside, through their pathways and connections, work as one. It will be a building which enables all the fundamentals of play. Maximising the imagination of children’s play, we are designing a fully inclusive building that enables this for all

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Two Family Accessible Lifetime Home

Posted on: March 19th, 2019
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This new build house, was designed to support two families, including one wheelchair user. It was important for the two families to feel well connected, whilst also having their own private space. We worked closely with the planning department to ensure that the understanding of the extra needs of the families were supported allowing a design that both works with the surrounding landscape whilst also providing a suitable lifetime home

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Chambers McMillan is no longer an active practice. We are keeping this website as an archive of the work we are proud of doing over the last 12 years. We are still contactable on the same emails for our new endeavours: Mind the Gap, Inclusive Design Consultancy, and Studio McMillan Architects.

chambersmcmillan
9e Bellfield Lane
Portobello
Edinburgh EH15 2BL

t - 07484 638858 (Ian)
t - 07717 131287 (Thea)

ian@chambersmcmillan.com
thea@chambersmcmillan.com

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