Collective Architecture’s designs for Cables Wynd House and Linksview House won a silver award at the Scottish Design Awards on Thursday:
https://www.scottishdesignawards.com/2026/architecture-future/cables-wynd-linksview-house/
Cables Wynd House and Linksview House are two Category A listed Brutalist towers in Edinburgh’s Leith Conservation Area, providing 310 homes, over 98% for social rent.
Now over 60 years old, they face the combined challenge of meeting contemporary living standards, complying with ambitious social housing policy, and preserving their national heritage significance.
This project demonstrates how deep retrofit can extend the life of nationally important housing while delivering safe, warm and comfortable homes. A whole-block, EnerPHit-informed approach reduces space heating demand by 88% and overall energy use by 80% per dwelling, enabling the transition from gas to direct electric heating whilst eliminating fuel poverty.
The project responds to the City of Edinburgh Council’s ambition for transformational change and sustainable regeneration.
It takes a holistic view of energy, comfort, health, safety and placemaking — putting people at the heart of retrofit. Residents’ lived experience has shaped the brief through our Home Standard Tool, establishing priorities that inform both design and delivery.
This ongoing engagement ensures improvements respond directly to how homes are used and experienced, while maintaining community continuity throughout.
A whole-block, fabric-first strategy upgrades performance, reduces energy demand and enables a transition away from fossil fuels while conserving the buildings’ architectural identity. An EnerPHit-informed approach, supported by detailed modelling and a bespoke Energy and Carbon Cost tool, balances carbon reduction, affordability, buildability and resident impact.
From a conservation perspective, the approach recognises that the buildings’ significance lies in their overall form and presence — the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Defining elements, including exposed aggregate concrete cladding, are retained and repaired, with most fabric upgrades delivered internally to protect the façades.
A repair-led approach integrates insulation, improved ventilation and new services, demonstrating that nationally significant heritage can achieve high environmental performance without compromising identity while retaining embodied carbon.
The project addresses long-standing challenges including thermal bridging, poor airtightness and outdated services. Improvements to ventilation, fire safety and access are integrated alongside fabric upgrades, ensuring homes are warm, healthy and safe. At ground level, new community hubs and improved entrances strengthen connections between residents and their surroundings.
Phasing has been considered from an early stage to allow residents to remain within the buildings throughout the works, recognising the importance of social continuity. By treating comfort, affordability and dignity as performance criteria alongside energy and carbon, the project demonstrates how retrofit can be part of a just transition.
https://www.collectivearchitecture.co.uk/projects/cables-wynd-house-linksview-house
