Business Details
27 Years
experience
Award-Winning Edinburgh Architects
City Architecture Office is an award-winning architectural practice based in Edinburgh, Scotland, renowned for its innovative and thoughtful design approach. With over two decades of experience, we specialise in creating clear, elegant architecture that enhances quality of life across residential, commercial, educational, and transport sectors. Our portfolio includes projects like the Caerlee Mill redevelopment, Paddington Station enhancements, and sustainable community hubs, reflecting our commitment to contextual sensitivity and environmental responsibility. We collaborate with clients such as Whiteburn Projects, London Underground, and Kingdom Housing Association to deliver solutions that exceed expectations while adhering to rigorous technical and aesthetic standards.Our team, including directors with RIBA and RIAS affiliations, combines academic excellence with practical expertise, ensuring every project benefits from both creative vision and technical precision. We maintain a quality management system and hold RIBA chartered practice status, underscoring our dedication to excellence in architectural design and service delivery.
Services
Architectural Design
Urban Regeneration
Sustainable Housing
Transport Infrastructure
Community Projects
Masterplanning
Historic Building Adaptation
3D Visualisation
Technical Consultancy
Project Management
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of experience in architectural design across diverse sectors
- Our team includes RIBA and RIAS affiliated professionals with academic distinctions
- We deliver sustainable, context-sensitive solutions for complex urban environments
- Our portfolio includes award-winning projects for major public and private clients
- We maintain RIBA chartered practice status for quality assurance
Associations and certifications
- RIBA Chartered Practice
Services
Architectural Design
We create innovative architectural solutions for residential, commercial, and public sector projects. Our approach combines contextual sensitivity with modern functionality, delivering spaces that enhance user experience while meeting technical requirements. Projects range from single-family homes to large-scale mixed-use developments, with a focus on sustainability and aesthetic quality.
Urban Regeneration
Our urban regeneration expertise transforms underutilised spaces into vibrant communities. We develop masterplans that integrate housing, transport, and public spaces while respecting historical context. Recent projects include Edinburgh Park office developments and Redcar seafront revitalisation, demonstrating our ability to balance modern needs with environmental considerations.
Sustainable Housing
We design energy-efficient housing solutions that reduce environmental impact without compromising comfort. Our projects feature super-insulated construction, renewable energy systems, and passive solar design. Examples include the Drumfin Eco Housing development and Saline Affordable Housing scheme, both demonstrating our commitment to creating low-carbon living environments.
Transport Infrastructure
We specialise in transport architecture, delivering functional yet aesthetically pleasing infrastructure. Our work includes Paddington Station ticket hall enhancements and Edinburgh Tram visualisation projects. We address complex engineering challenges while maintaining design integrity, ensuring seamless integration with urban environments and heritage contexts.
Community Projects
We create inclusive community spaces that address social needs and foster local engagement. Projects like Fullarton Community Hub and Rosyth Parish Church adaptation demonstrate our ability to transform existing structures into vibrant facilities. Our approach prioritises accessibility, sustainability, and long-term community benefit through collaborative design processes.
People
Moray Royles
Director
Founded City Architecture Office in 1999 with over 20 years' experience. RIAS Associate and former Aberdeen University lecturer, he specialises in complex architectural projects combining heritage sensitivity with modern design principles.
Tom Robertson Smith
Architect
Qualified architect with over 10 years' experience in community, sports, and housing projects. Specialises in sustainability and 3D visualisation, having worked on notable projects like Borthwick Primary School and Mull Indoor Sports Hub.
Alun Hughes
Consultant
Residential and transport architecture specialist with 20+ years' experience. Former Associate Director at Hawkins/Brown, he led major projects including Crossrail stations and award-winning mobile cinema designs for the Scottish Film Council.
Questions
What architectural services do you specialise in?
We specialise in residential, commercial, transport, and community architecture with a focus on sustainable, context-sensitive design solutions.
Do you work on listed building projects?
Yes, we have extensive experience with historic buildings, including Rosyth Parish Church restoration and Moore House conservation area developments.
Can you handle complex urban sites?
Our team excels at challenging sites, as demonstrated by Tarvit Street's five-level townhouse and Wadeson Street's brownfield regeneration.
Are you involved in sustainable design?
Sustainability is core to our practice, evident in projects like Drill Hall Arts Centre's energy recovery systems and super-insulated housing schemes.
Do you work internationally?
While primarily UK-focused, we've completed projects in New Zealand and have experience adapting designs to different regulatory environments.
How do you approach community consultation?
We engage stakeholders through public events and collaborative design processes, as seen in Saline Housing's community action plan integration.
