The White House, Craigmillar

Craigmillar, in south east Edinburgh, is the 4th most deprived area in Scotland. It is home to many people with drug and alcohol problems, and unemployment is high. There is however a strong sense of community and the restoration of an iconic building at its heart has had a very positive impact on the local people. The design was based on historic plans and images of the building. These were adapted appropriately to creatively integrate modern requirements such as a lift and accessible toilet to ensure the building is now fully accessible for all visitors. High quality sustainable and original materials were used to improve the energy efficiency of the building without compromising its historic aesthetic. Community consultation was undertaken to discuss the end use of the building. PARC are keen that it becomes a community hub and discussions are almost complete with a local community group to take over the building permanently. In the meantime it has hosted a large scale community regeneration and history exhibition that was visited by over 2000 people from around the world in its first 2 months. It is also used regularly by various community groups and locals. The building was also included for the first time in the Edinburgh Door’s Open Day in 2011, where it proved a very popular venue. The White House now forms a vibrant heart to the town centre of Craigmillar and this iconic building is once more a positive symbol of its community.