Cowan Court

Award-winning extra care home for dementia sufferers.

The overall development comprises of 30 family homes for social rent, including two homes with special needs adaptations, a 4 person 4 bed secure support accommodation home and a 32 bed extra care home for dementia sufferers with associated staff and community facilities. Consultation with Midlothian Council's Social Work Department and Stirling University Dementia Care Centre ensured the design fully compliant with best practice for people with disabilities or dementia.

Alex Neil MSP
Cabinet secretary for Health and Wellbeing

Urban Response

The built form relates in scale and character to the adjacent buildings following the existing pedestrian and vehicular routes within the urban realm. The internal layout of the Care Unit clearly identifies private and secure spaces for tenants, with the Community facilities acting as a pivot between these zones.

Place Making

Designed around two large amenity spaces for both family housing and the extra care facility, the site layout clearly defines public and private places connecting to existing networks through the site. The holistic approach to the care unit secure garden provides varying areas for the physical and well being of tenants.

The strategic location of the community facilities within the care home promotes positive and welcoming interaction between the residents and the local community while retaining privacy for the tenants.