Aspen Cheung
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,University of Edinburgh
Aspen Cheung
Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,University of Edinburgh
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→ Community Competitions 01:
Portobello Promenade
https://www.communitycompetitions.org/portobellocompetition
Aug-Sep 2025
Longlisted Entry:
Portobello Commons
From Toilets to Commons: Essential Amenities Reimagined as a Civic Gathering Space for Portobello
The competition site is the existing public toilet block between the Portobello Kilns and Nobles Amusements, and is currently mostly unused. The site presents great civic potential as the Portobello Promenade is a bustling and popular destination within Edinburgh. While a new toilet block with long working hours is the main priority of the design proposal, the jury recognizes the site's civility and asks for a civic hub.
Initially feeling uninspired, I began by doing demographic research of Portobello, understanding the relative zones of residential and commercial areas, and spotting key landmarks within Portobello. This led to the ethos that the civic hub should serve the local small businesses by offering a place for them to garner public attention, through bulletin boards and new book points, or even a new venue for classes/ workshops to be held.
Sited on the Portobello Promenade, the proximity to the beach presented the opportunity to develop more watersports-focused programmes. A well-equipped toilet block, changing and shower facilities, as well as a bike and watersport repair shop and storage facilities, should be provided. Accessibility also comes to mind when this proposal is intended to be civic, and this sparked the idea of a step-free building, where a long and twisted ramp would weave through the building, connecting all points of access while offering views within the building as well as outward to the beach, both internally and externally.
Demography of Portobello
Final Design
The proposal reimagines the existing toilet block on Portobello Promenade as the foundation for a new civic centre. The design began with a new, generous, long-hour public toilet block with changing and showering facilities for beach users. Around this essential core, a series of community-focused spaces - a cafe, activity rooms, and watersports storage with a repair shop - transform the building into a place people will want to visit not only when going to the beach, but also as part of their everyday routines.
The centre is conceived as a flexible hub for Portobello’s changing community, supporting local small businesses, clubs, and events that bring people together. From family workshops to yoga sessions, local food pop-ups to neighborhood markets, the building fosters connections across generations and interests. The design responds to Portobello’s pitched roofscape, blending into the urban landscape but also possessing civic presence. A continuous ramp threads through the building, offering step-free access, panoramic views, and moments of gathering along the way.
Sustainability is embedded at every level: Scottish-grown timber, reclaimed brick, breathable natural materials, solar-oriented roof slopes, natural ventilation, and permeable ground reduce both embodied and operational carbon. The result is a civic landmark where everyday needs spark wider community life.
Final Competition Spread
Since this was an ideas competition, there was less pressure for technical considerations, but a level of detail was still required to ensure the assumptions were somewhat feasible. With the submission allowing only 1 A2 spread, the information needs to be delivered efficiently, and this allowed me to explore a new way of presenting drawings and ideas.
Picture taken by Phoebe Vendil.
An exhibition for all entries was held from 2nd to 15th October 2025 in Custom Lane, Leith.