York architects brown + company have won a major Scottish design competition.
The company, based in Blossom Street, is “extremely proud” to have secured first place in the National Design Ideas Competition for a new community facility at Portobello Promenade in Edinburgh.
Set alongside this much-loved stretch of North Sea coastline, Portobello Promenade is famous for its beautiful beach and its facilities for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and walking.
The National Ideas competition invited proposals from architects across the UK to revitalise a dated public toilet block, introducing commercial and community uses that would support extended public access.
Neil Brown, managing director of brown + company, said: “Our winning proposal reimagines the existing facilities through sensitive refurbishment and thoughtful expansion. The scheme enhances accessibility with new inclusive toilets, a Changing Places facility and showers for beachgoers.
“A timber extension — crafted from locally sourced materials that reflect the tones and textures of Portobello’s shore — wraps around the existing structure, giving it renewed warmth and character.
“By pushing the structure out to the perimeter walls, the design creates a flexible commercial space adaptable to a range of community needs. A generous roof overhang offers shelter and a sense of intimacy within the exposed coastal setting.”
The proposal also features a community garden — a shared initiative to be nurtured by local schools, charities, and residents. Seasonal produce grown here will be used within the community facility, reinforcing the project’s commitment to local collaboration and sustainability.
Neil added: “We are incredibly proud of winning this prestigious competition. I’d like to thank my talented colleague Rob Miller, who has worked tremendously hard on this project to create a high-quality facility which is worthy of its stunning situation.”
The competition judges said: “This was a quietly confident entry, combining flexibility and simple charm to create an attractive community anchor. Brown + company’s Porty Cooperative Café convinced the jury with its unassuming clarity. A modest café, social hub, and practical toilet block, it embraces the brief’s call for community driven simplicity.
“Its buildable design, with scope for kayak storage or boat club admin, fits the promenade’s gentle curve without crowding its salty openness. The believable visuals and grounded approach won over the jury. Judges recommend rooftop access to capture views across the sea.”
The client for Portobello Promenade is the City of Edinburgh Council and brown + company will be beginning the detail design stage in the next few months, before the project goes out to tender.
