The Ice House is a refurbishment project in Scotland for a return client which transforms a redundant industrial building into high quality office space.

Icehouse

Galmstrup_ Icehouse _70_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable

Location
Eyemouth, Scotland

Completed / Competition
2026

Client
Eyemouth Harbour Trust

Galmstrup_ Icehouse _71_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable

The project is for The Eyemouth Harbour Trust, who were previously our client for The Eyemouth Harbour Pavilion. Both projects are part of a wider vision to reinvent the harbour area. The transformation will provide important workspaces for the wider community, supporting job growth in Eyemouth. The project will start on site in June 2026.

Galmstrup_ Icehouse _72_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable
Galmstrup_ Icehouse _73_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable
Galmstrup_ Icehouse _74_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable
Galmstrup_ Icehouse _75_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable

Added Value

The new office space provides a valuable resource for the Eyemouth Harbour Trust and the community. The existing building looked run- down and in need of repair. The new building will invigorate the harbour area making it a beautiful and comfortable place to walk.

Retrofit

Our aim has been to strike the right balance between keeping as much of the existing building as possible to reduce the environmental impact and cost, while also improving building fabric where it would be beneficial. The change of use from industrial into office space meant that the thermal performance of the building needed to be significantly improved to enhance comfort and to reduce energy use.

Galmstrup_ Icehouse _76_Culture / Museum / Heritage / Community / Exhibition – Materiality / Sustainable

Context

The Icehouse is located just a few metres from the water’s edge. While in such an exposed location, we have chosen robust materials, suitable for use in a marine environment. The Ice House is connected to an office building which will be in operation throughout construction.

History

The site, within a conservation area and directly beside the sea presented many challenges. The design sensitively takes its cues from the existing building and surrounding context. Materials were chosen for their suitability for its surroundings. Details were developed which are both durable and in keeping with existing buildings in the conservation area.

Sustainability

Making a building that requires low energy to run was a key driver. Walls and roof have new insulation and windows. All existing items, such as the existing steel structure, that could be retained and reused have been. This has kept the embodied carbon of the building as low as possible.

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