Western Harbour

7N Architects and Rankin Fraser Landscape Architecture’s proposals for Western Harbour in the Port of Leith will transform empty reclaimed land into a vibrant waterfront community. 

A New Neighbourhood

Delivered in a single stroke, the new neighbourhood will create a vibrant community from the ground up and reinvigorate the waterfront with a diverse combination of residential and mixed use spaces. A new park, one of the largest delivered in Edinburgh for over a century, will form the heart of the new community offering play space, large open meadows, varied woodland, a community growing space and an outdoor classroom directly connected to the adjacent primary school.

A Placemaking Approach

The streets, spaces, buildings and quarters are designed to have a discernible character, within the coherent character of the wider neighbourhood, to cultivate variety, identity and legibility. A varied palette of robust materials references the historic waterfront buildings and the site’s direct relationship with the Port of Leith.

Streets for People

The approach focuses on designing a place which encourages people to inhabit and activate their environment by creating a rich public realm that prioritises pedestrians and cyclists over vehicles.