Claremont Court

Place and belonging: What can we learn from the Claremont Court housing scheme?

Claremont Court, Edinburgh

This project is a collaboration across architecture, sociology, social work and social anthropology.

It explores how the built environment helps shape the atmosphere of a place and people’s sense of belonging to a place. In the case of Claremont Court housing scheme in Edinburgh.

These are interesting issues to study in relation to Claremont Court. A housing scheme designed by the modernist architect Sir Basil Spence.

The project compares the architectural theories of place-making behind the original Claremont Court design and the ways in which residents engage with and ‘make’ place.

How we are doing the research

As well as interviewing residents who live at Claremont Court, we also used:

  1. Activity diaries - reading people’s everyday lives and how the housing scheme relates to everyday activities.
  2. Walking tours - reading how residents experience the built environment.
  3. Photo elicitations - using photographs to help us understand how the place has changed and how it used to be.

Our colleagues at Northumbria produced detailed drawings of the communal areas and interiors of some apartments to explore how space is being used, compared to the original designs.

What do we want to find out?

Staircase at Claremont Court, Edinburgh

We are exploring whether Claremont Court has a distinctive atmosphere and why.

We will explore the following issues with residents:

  • How do residents of Claremont Court contribute to how it feels to live there?
  • Is there a sense of community at Claremont Court?
  • What do residents think about the buildings?
  • How does the atmosphere of Claremont Court influence whether residents feel at home? 

What will the outcomes of the research be?

The project's findings are published in reports, articles, books and oral presentations. The findings will be of interest to academics and others who have an interest in design, housing and community.

A final event will be organised. We will invite residents from Claremont Court and representatives from The City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Scotland to discuss our findings.

Claremont Court, Edinburgh

The project’s findings will be published in a variety of forms: these might include reports, articles, books and oral presentations.

The findings will be of interest to academics and to others who are interested in design, housing and community.

A final event was organised, where residents from Claremont Court along with representatives from The City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Scotland discuss our findings. 

The project team

The project team consists of architects Sandra Costa Santos and Nadia Bertolini from Northumbria University, with Vanessa May, Stephen Hicks and Camilla Lewis from the Morgan Centre.

Project news

For more information about this project, please email camilla.lewis@manchester.ac.uk.

Acknowledgements

This project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).