The Resident Hotel
Located in the conservation area of Victorian garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland, this project was originally a concrete office building from the late 1950s. The dated building, having reached the end of its lifespan, was then transformed and retrofitted into a luxury modern hotel ‘The Resident’ in Edinburgh.
Synopsis
Originally called Meldrum House, the project is located in the conservation area of Victorian garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland. Initially a concrete office building from the late 1950s, the dated building having reached the end of its lifespan, was then transformed and retrofitted into a luxury modern hotel ‘The Resident’ in Edinburgh. The options of demolition or refurbishment were considered but the embodied carbon savings potential made retrofitting the best and most sustainable choice.
MLA (Michael Laird Architects) was commissioned to develop the brief for the retrofit and Bauder’s Thermofol 1.5 mm Single Ply roofing system was deemed a good fit for their sustainable specification.
The retrofitting of Meldrum House transformed the office building into what is now the luxury modern hotel which featured in COP26, further highlighting its sustainable achievements. The hotel retained some of its original structure like its concrete frame and core, recycled external glazing, but the overall building was given a breath of new life and ultimately saving approximately 40% embodied carbon.
The project received a ‘Highly Commended’ accolade for the Sustainability award at the 2025 edition of the SPRA (Single Ply Roofing Association) Awards. Nominated for its extraordinary and highly sustainable transformation using a single ply system.
Bauder building board
Project | The Resident hotel |
Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
Project type | New Build |
Roof size | 799.73 m2 |
Main contractor | Morrison Construction |
Approved contractor | Q9 Cladding Solutions |
The specification
MLA (Michael Laird Architects) developed the brief for the retrofit of Meldrum house which was previously home to HMS Revenue & Customs and was designed and constructed for a very different generation in terms of comfort and energy efficiency. The building had come to the end of its natural life cycle following years of neglect and low maintenance.
As minimising the environmental impact and urban disturbances was of the utmost importance, Bauder was subsequently approached to discuss various roofing solutions that would meet the client’s sustainable requirements including the overall weight of the new roofing system, timescale for installation and other environmental considerations. After reviewing all of the information provided, Bauder’s Thermofol 1.5 mm Single Ply roofing system was chosen.
Products applied
Bauder’s Thermofol 1.5 mm Single Ply roofing system was chosen for this project specifically for its environmentally balanced properties. MLA also preferred single ply membranes of a specific grey colour shade and once compared to the option of using bitumen especially in terms of carbon emissions, the bitumen option would not make it suitable for the project as it is intended to be an environmentally friendly building.
Single ply membranes are durable and resistant to European climate considerations, yet incredibly lightweight, typically 2-3kg/m2 making the transportation of materials as easy and efficient as possible. Due to its durability, using single ply means the roof would last longer and therefore it is less likely for the roof to require continuous refurbishment and refresh.
Bauder PIR Tapered insulation was chosen for its lightweight and exceptional lambda value ensuring the roofing system was as energy efficient, thin and light as possible.
Project challenges
Retaining legacy materials and the focus on sustainable refurbishment made planning for the project’s insulation properties a particularly challenging one. During the planning stages of the roofing system, the U-value and its effect on the thermal insulation properties of the roof had to be considered for the original decking to retain original materials and remain flat, as specified by the architects. The solution was to use PIR tapered insulation to create falls where necessary and to maintain a slim build up to not exceed planning heights and meet U-value requirements.
As the building site was located within a conservation area of Edinburgh this limits access to the building making the project itself particularly challenging to manage. Ensuring minimal disruption to the public and businesses were a top priority as well as ensuring surrounding historic buildings are left undamaged by the construction. With careful coordination of delivery times for products and equipment as well as strictly managing the schedule of the materials being offloaded in a highly populated and protected area, this enabled the project to run precisely like clockwork with minimal disruption to the area.
The main contractors Morrison Construction are well versed in health and safety procedures and processes, and as tier 1 main contractor for Bauder they ensured that the site maintained a safe working environment for all personnels present during the construction period.
System build up
Bauder Thermofol Single Ply system
Bauder’s Thermofol 1.5 mm Single Ply roofing system was chosen for this project specifically for its environmentally balanced properties. Bauder PIR Tapered insulation was chosen for its lightweight and exceptional lambda value ensuring the roofing system was as energy efficient, thin and light as possible.
Function
Cap Sheet
The result
The retrofitting of Meldrum house breathed new life into what was once an outdated and degraded office building and transformed it into what is now the luxury modern hotel ‘The Resident, Edinburgh’. As well as its recognition as a nominee for the Sustainability Award at the 2025 edition of the SPRA Awards, the hotel itself was also featured in COP26 which further highlights its highly sustainable origins.
Such achievements underscore the exceptional collaborative work between Bauder, Michael Laird Architects, Morrison Construction and Q9 Cladding Solutions. Proving Bauder’s dedication to providing roofing solutions at the highest standards from start to finish.
Chris Langton, Architectural Technical Manager I was proud to have been contacted at the early design stage by the architect to provide the waterproofing solution for the roofs of this landmark hotel development. From the outset, our goal was to deliver not only the highest standard of materials, but also the best design in terms of tapered insulation, suitability of system for the project and reliability of waterproofing system.
Working closely with the architects and subsequently main contractor, we supplied Bauder’s Thermofol Single Ply System that seamlessly blended durability with aesthetic excellence. It has been a privilege to contribute to a property that sets a new benchmark in luxury hospitality, and we are confident our waterproofing system will stand the test of time—both in performance and presentation.
