Wilson Paul Award-Winning Chartered Architects In Dundee

Project  / Sensitive adaptive reuse of former nightclub building in Dundee City Centre to form high-quality student residences.

Client  / Private Developer

Description

This project is the conversion of the former Lyrics Nightclub at 48 St Andrew’s Lane, Dundee, into sustainable, high-quality student accommodation. In recent years, the former Lyrics Night Club building has fallen into a state of disrepair following a fire outbreak which caused significant damage to the existing structure.

 

Our designs seek to restore and repurpose the former night club into a three-storey development featuring self-contained student residences. Located within close to proximity to both Dundee and Abertay University, the project will address the increasing demand for quality student housing in a vibrant, accessible area.

 

This redevelopment presents an excellent opportunity for urban renewal while contributing to Dundee’s city-centre housing needs and enhancing the neighbourhood’s visual appeal promoting a safe and pleasant environment.

 

 

The St Andrew’s Lane façade will be preserved and carefully restored, with plans for chemical cleaning and repointing using traditional lime mortar. This commitment to preservation safeguards the building’s history while removing graffiti and wear, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of St Andrew’s Lane. The fire damage to the top-most level including the roof structure has significantly compromised the integrity of the roof’s structural timbers. The proposal seeks to replace the top-floor roof structure providing an opportunity to introduce a modern architectural element that complements and adds to the building and city’s narrative. By proposing a sleek, powder-coated standing seam aluminium cladding, we introduce a contemporary material that enhances the building's appeal through a visually compelling contrast. The proposed design maintains a height consistent with the original building, respecting the scale of the existing urban environment.

 

The building’s massing has been carefully considered to fit within the narrow lane, with architectural articulation in the façade to avoid a monolithic appearance. The verticality is emphasized through window placement and material layering, breaking up the building’s volume and allowing it to blend seamlessly with the surrounding context. While the structure has been extended vertically to accommodate modern living standards, these modifications remain sensitive to the character and scale of adjacent properties.