AGORA architecture + design

So excited to read the feature on our Portobello listed villa project in the summer edition of Homes & Interiors Scotland!

AGORA | Homes & Interiors Scotland "clean and polish" Our Portobello Grade B listed villa project has been published in Homes & Interiors Scotland magazine. The article is titled "clean and polish".

Our extension in the Grange, Edinburgh will provide a generous kitchen and dining space, utility room and shower room at ground floor, and a guest bedroom suite at first floor. Charred wood cladding distinguishes the new addition from the original house, while elements of dressed sandstone evoke the traditional architecture of the area.

Delighted to receive planning consent for a single and two storey extension to a beautiful house within the Grange Conservation Area. The extension will provide a wonderful new kitchen and dining space with linear rooflights bringing natural light deep into the heart of the space. The project will also provide a new utility room, ground floor shower room, family snug, and guest suite.

Detailed designs are being progressed with a view to starting on site later this year!

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Large windows overlook a raised planter overflowing with herbs and other edibles at our Georgian house renovation in Portobello. The dining room is seamlessly integrated with the garden - a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor living.

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Our Portobello extension looking good on a summer’s day. The small zinc clad addition forms part of a whole house renovation which transformed this unloved Georgian property into a warm family home.

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AGORA | edinburgh architects | residential + commercial Architecture firm based in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. Specialising in domestic and commercial extensions, renovations and new-builds.

A summery photo for a grey December day…. This side extension to a traditional Edinburgh bungalow has a small footprint but has made a huge impact on the owner’s quality of life! Large glass doors to the enlarged kitchen provide an improved connection to the garden, as well as flooding the space with natural light. And the blue brick gives a contemporary contrast with the traditional roughcast…

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A detail from our Georgian house renovation project. An old Edinburgh press cupboard has been reinvented as a compact and practical dressing table. The door facings have been retained and restored, creating a dialogue between the original features and new interventions.

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Interior view of a recent extension project in Edinburgh. A traditional bungalow has been given a new lease of life through the addition of a light-filled kitchen extension. The design places a convivial kitchen-dining space at the heart of the home.

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Excited to receive this in the post!

AGORA | Grand Designs "The art of restoration" Our Portobello, Edinburgh Grade B listed villa project has been published in Grand Designs magazine. The article is titled "The art of restoration".

Very excited to be a finalist in the Scottish Design Awards!

AGORA | Scottish Design Awards 2023 finalist We’re excited to share the news that we have been nominated for the Scottish Design Awards!

Some progress photos from our extension at Duddingston. We chose a palette of stone and zinc to reference the existing house in a contemporary manner. The stonework is looking spot-on, and the zinc details are coming together beautifully. Nice work by Newtown Renovations Ltd 👏

Throwback Thursday – our larch extension in Portobello utilises open jointed Siberian larch cladding to create an elevation with texture and depth. Doors are set back into a brick and timber lined recess to provide shelter in this exposed location.

Larch cladding supplied by
Brick supplied by
Zinc roofing and rainwater goods supplied and installed by Artisan Zinc

AGORA | residential and commercial architects Edinburgh Architecture firm based in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. Specialising in domestic and commercial extensions, renovations and new-builds.

We are delighted that our open plan living project has been announced as one of Archello’s ‘Best Projects of 2022’! It's one that we're very proud of!

AGORA | Archello best of 2022 We are delighted that our open plan living project has been announced as one of Archello’s ‘Best Projects of 2022’!

In our Corstorphine renovation project, we wanted to tie the kitchen into the living space. Bespoke shelving, framing an oak lined window seat, helps to make the kitchen feel like a piece of furniture. We loved working with the clients, main contractor and kitchen manufacturer to translate this from our initial sketches to reality!

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Main contractor Platinum Property Services

AGORA | residential and commercial architects Edinburgh Chartered Architects based in Edinburgh, Scotland specialising in domestic extensions and refurbishments, new-build houses, and commercial projects.

Edinburgh open plan living Private House by AGORA architecture + design features a material palette of:

• Kitchen by Archispek
• Fireplace by Bio Fireplace Group
• Paint by Lick
• Engineered wood flooring by Ted Todd Fine Wood Floors

See more: https://bit.ly/3GhK6gq

As the nights draw in, it’s nice to have a cosy den to retire to. At this listed property in Edinburgh the room was full of original features, so only light touch alterations were required to create a compact family space, perfect for nights by the fire, or watching a film together.

AGORA | residential and commercial architects Edinburgh Chartered Architects based in Edinburgh, Scotland specialising in domestic extensions and refurbishments, new-build houses, and commercial projects.

September has been an exciting month for us, as we moved into our new office at York Place! This gives us a city centre base to cover projects throughout Edinburgh and beyond. We’re enjoying being in such a great location, with so many brilliant local businesses around us.

Photo of the view from our office window (obviously not taken today 😂)

What a spot to wind down after a busy day. Open the doors and listen to the waves, or on a winters day enjoy the view from the warmth of this cosy home.

Our Joppa extension creates a multi-use space for working and relaxing, as well as opening up the kitchen to that view!

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AGORA architecture + design - Architects Edinburgh AGORA architecture + design are Chartered Architects based in Edinburgh, Scotland specialising in domestic extensions and refurbishments, new-build houses, and commercial projects.

Zinc and Siberian Larch cladding provide a durable finish to our Joppa extension. The house backs onto the sea so achieving a weathertight yet visually open envelope was a key driver for the design. The aluminium bi-fold doors are set back in a larch lined recess to provide shelter from the elements while maximising views out.

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Zinc extension to listed villa Portobello Edinburgh

Our extension to this Victorian terrace in Edinburgh opens up views from front to back through the house. A linear rooflight floods the centre of the plan with natural light. The built-in bench seat utilises the change in level, and an oak desk provides a compact space for homeworking.

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Sometimes the little details can make all the difference.

We worked closely with our clients at this renovation project in Edinburgh to capture all of their ideas and make them a reality. Details like flush skirtings, minimal switches and a contemporary fireplace give the space a clean, calm feeling.

Visit our website for more information!

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Another view of the master bedroom at our Georgian villa renovation in Portobello. Original features such as the cornice and shutters have been restored. The room has been kept fresh and bright through the use of Farrow and Ball’s on the walls, and a larch engineered wood floor. Swipe to see a detail of the bespoke bedside storage.

Delighted to have recently submitted a planning application for this large rear and side extension in the west of Edinburgh. A single storey rear extension will provide a better connection to the garden and create a light-filled open kitchen, dining and living area as well as a study and utility room. A first floor extension to the side will provide an additional bedroom and ensuite. If you’re thinking of a project please get in touch!

Some updated images of our listed house extension and renovation project in Portobello. The old stone floor was hidden under layers of cement screed and was carefully restored. The dining area extension has large hardwood windows to frame the views out to the garden.

We recently submitted a planning application for this stable conversion in West Lothian. The project will provide residential accommodation at the upper level, with office and studio space at the lower level. A Scottish larch clad balcony will take advantage of the incredible views. Can't wait to see this one progress!

Delighted to have submitted a planning application for the remodelling of this family home in the west of Edinburgh. Contemporary zinc and timber dormers, along with a first floor extension to the rear, will provide additional bedrooms, freeing up the ground floor to become a a generous open plan kitchen / living space.

Finally managed to get over to see this Corstorphine house renovation complete. Beautifully crafted kitchen supplied by Archispek, installed by Platinum Property Services and furnished by our fab clients!

Who we are:

Lorna set up AGORA in 2018 after 15 years working in practices in England and Scotland. She has designed and delivered projects ranging from domestic extensions through to new-build schools. She has experience of working with listed buildings and within conservation areas. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, cycling, camping and spending time with her two daughters.

Gaynor joined us earlier this year and brought with her 15 years’ experience of working in practice in Edinburgh. She has worked in a wide variety of sectors including residential, domestic, retail, hotel and commercial, including both new build and refurbishment projects In her spare time she can usually be found walking the dog with her two children and helping with the parent council at their school.

Sybille is the newest member of the team. She joins us with 17 years’ experience and a background in commercial and domestic new build and refurbishment projects. Sybille enjoys all aspects of architecture and helps her clients realise their ideas by applying her flair for design and a keen interest in architectural detailing. In her spare time, Sybille is an experienced skier and enjoys cycling, tennis and travelling with her family.