The Printworks is a multidisciplinary art centre, which combines the “making” spaces of studios and workshops with the “displaying” areas of galleries and various exhibition rooms. The facility also invites public inhabitation, with an extensive gallery and restaurant space on the ground floor, opening onto a sculpture park. Its name is derived from the historical context of the site, which formerly situated Thomas Nelson Sr’s Printworks building. The site is located at 15 Dalkeith Road, the former home of the Scottish Widows before they left in 2020. Since then, it has been derelict until planning passed for the £100m construction project of 194 flats and the destruction of the rear 5 modules. My proposal seeks to offer a more publically accessible future for the building and therefore revitalise its creative printworking past by reimagining a new vast creative hub for Edinburgh, which is severely lacking in the city. The existing building programme is formed of 12 hexagonal modules, comprised of a concrete primary structure with rhythmic columns and vast coffered floorplates. The building is listed for a variety of features including the bronze curtain wall, which traces around the entirety of its facades. I have chosen to demolish the middle Module in my proposal so that the Printworks can work as its own entity, whilst also creating a new thoroughfare for the public. The aim of the project was to reuse as many of the existing materials of the building as possible, and these components can clearly be seen in the Tectonic Model.
Gianluca Luciano Cau Tait
Project description
The arrangement of spaces within my rear 5 modules is determined by their use. The new ground floor entrance opens out to a spacious foyer, which immediately connects to the existing circulatory core of Module 9. The ground floor also contains a cafe/restaurant space and educational art workshops, which will allow members of the public to undertake a variety of classes. The first floor houses the gallery spaces, which feature a temporary exhibition and a permanent exhibition. A bar is located directly next to the lecture theatre, whereby Artist talks and screenings can be held. The upper two floors contain the studios, which form a ribbon around the building’s Northern facades and provide stunning views of the Salisbury crags. These surround a double-height space, complete with a mezzanine, which serves as a location for the studio users to exhibit their own work and test out installations. The upper floors also contain a two-storey library with digital fabrication labs, as well as workshop spaces including Plaster and Ceramics. The more industrial workshops of Metal and Wood are to be located on the basement floor, however, these are yet to be realised.
"The Printworks" Tectonic Model
Coffers
A significant factor of the listing of 15 Dalkeith Road is due to the in-situ cast concrete coffers, which are the defining features of the floorplates. Whilst mainly having a structural purpose with enclosed reinforcement bars, the coffers also offer a unique aesthetic quality. Unfortunately, they were covered by suspended ceilings when under the inhabitation of Scottish Widows, except from a couple of instances. Therefore, in the Printworks, I have chosen to remove the suspended ceilings across the majority of the floorplates. The only exceptions are located around the perimeter of the building where the ceiling meets the curtain wall, as the soffits help to disguise insulation, whilst also offering a service line for wires. The removal of the suspended ceilings also adds around half a metre of headroom, creating a more comfortable setting.
Curtain Wall
The existing bronze glazing had the equivalent thermal insulating performance similar to that of single glazing. However, it was an important part of the building’s listing, as it is stated on the HES website. Therefore, I found it critical to not completely remove this facade, and instead to adapt it to make it perform up to today’s standards. To achieve this, I inserted a high-performing new curtain wall directly behind the current one. Whilst immediately improving energy performance, I have also been able to remove the bronze panels of the existing curtain wall in order to frame views and allow users to get clear, bright panoramas of the beautiful surroundings, which extend up to the Crags. The pattern of instances where both curtain walls are used or just the improved one can be seen on the floorplans and are dictated by the spaces within.
Skylights
To improve the environmental qualities of 15 Dalkeith Road, I have majorly adapted the zinc roof. By cutting through the thinnest parts of the coffers, I have been able to create vast skylights which allow diffused natural light to pour into the depths of the floorplates. In the existing building, the distribution of light was incredibly uneven, as spaces located directly next to the windows received vast insolation whilst the inner areas received none. This also forced a reliance on artificial lighting, which I have aimed to minimise in the Printworks by allowing a greater quantity of daylight to reach further into the plan. The skylights are located above modules 8, 11, and 12, which translate into the studio spaces and exhibition galleries. it should be noted that direct sunlight is not helpful for a gallery space, however, the depth of the coffers allows the light to diffuse.
Galleries
I was very keen on creating both temporary and permanent exhibition spaces in the Printworks, as the Southside of Edinburgh is significantly lacking in spaces for exhibiting work. Part of my research involved speaking to the manager of the Glasgow Life Open Museum, who helped me to design the spaces with the conservation of artworks in mind. Here is a snippet: “You might want to consider: a loading bay for the arrival of artworks and a working/ storage area to check artworks as they arrive/ store packing crates and materials. You would want a wide, large load-bearing lift and wide door access to all gallery spaces. Fluctuation in temperature and relative humidity are to be avoided so ways to keep these as constant as possible (temp around 21 degrees and RH 45-55%) and keeping readings is important".
- Chris Jamieson, Glasgow Life Open Museum Manager
Gianluca Luciano Cau Tait
