High-brid? Reconciling opposites in Leith, Edinburgh Part 2 Project 2025 Graeme Williamson RIBA Studio | UK The site is in Leith, Edinburgh’s port, and adjacent to a pedestrianised shopping area and a 17-storey residential tower; an apt location to explore the High-Rise brief. Once a diverse and popular destination, the ‘Foot of the Walk’ is now mediocre, and the tram stop uninviting.The project seeks to reconcile four apparent opposites:Independence / Connectedness: Leith’s culture of making is re-established and celebrated through a public-facing bottle factory. Connectedness to Edinburgh is enhanced by overhauling the tram stop; forming a public square and thoroughfare. The vast climbing wall doubles as a canvas for local artists to enliven the city skyline.Old / New: A diverse programme of spaces is reintroduced that allows living, working, and playing to coexist.Play / Utility: The factory roof is also a sculpted garden for children to explore. The climbing wall conceals a fire escape and the purple chimneys intermingle with the coloured chutes and tunnels.Disadvantage / Prosperity: Blue-collar factory workers thrive amidst amenities and greenery. Their work is in public view and understood. Tower residents now have additional fire escapes and can rent affordable work units in the tower, cultivating entrepreneurship.The convergence of these antitheses enlivens and transforms the site. Tutor(s)