brown + company is proud to have secured first place in the National Design Ideas Competition for a new community facility at Portobello Promenade.

Set along this much-loved stretch of coastline, the competition invited proposals to revitalise a dated public toilet block, introducing commercial and community uses that would support extended public access.

Our winning proposal reimagines the existing facilities through sensitive refurbishment and thoughtful expansion. The scheme enhances accessibility with new inclusive toilets, a Changing Places facility, and showers for beachgoers. A timber extension — crafted from locally sourced materials that reflect the tones and textures of Portobello’s shore — wraps around the existing structure, giving it renewed warmth and character.

By pushing the structure out to the perimeter walls, the design creates a flexible commercial space adaptable to a range of community needs. A generous roof overhang offers shelter and a sense of intimacy within the exposed coastal setting.

The proposal also features a community garden — a shared initiative to be nurtured by local schools, charities, and residents. Seasonal produce grown here will be used within the community facility, reinforcing the project’s commitment to local collaboration and sustainability.

Judges comments:

A quietly confident, realistic choice, combining flexibility and simple charm to create an attractive community anchor. brown + company’s Porty Cooperative Café convinced the jury with its unassuming clarity. A modest café, social hub, and practical toilet block, it embraces the brief’s call for community driven simplicity. Its buildable design, with scope for kayak storage or boat club admin, fits the promenade’s gentle curve without crowding its salty openness. The herb garden felt like a misstep - unlikely to survive a pragmatic client - but the believable visuals and grounded approach won over the jury. Judges recommend rooftop access to capture views across the sea.  

Team: Rob Miller