In today’s world, where sustainability has become a core principle of design, a remarkable project in Edinburgh, Scotland, has captured global attention. Costa Rican artist Juli Bolaños-Durman, known for her work with discarded glass, has transformed her old Victorian flat in the Leith neighbourhood into a truly sustainable flat villa. This small flat, named “La Casita” (the little house), has been completely renovated in collaboration with Alexander McKimmie Architects and is now shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2025 in the sustainable interior category. The primary goal was to create a cosy space that reflects the artist’s personal ethos: celebrating the beauty in imperfection.
This project has been guided by a “material-led” approach, with every element constructed from recycled, surplus, and salvaged materials. The existing pine floorboards were lightly sanded only to preserve their uneven texture, while glossy skirting boards provide a striking contrast. The bespoke kitchen is crafted from surplus timbers including oak, cherry, Douglas fir, and ash, with cabinet interiors lined in coloured Valchromat fibreboard made from commercial waste. This combination not only creates rich colour and textural variety but transforms waste into beautiful features — an ideal model for sustainable flat villa design.
One of the standout features is the monolithic fireplace crafted from three salvaged stone slabs, their raw edges left untouched to emphasise the natural character of the stone. In the bathroom, offcuts of British stone have been arranged in a patchwork pattern, with the design dictated by the existing dimensions of the pieces. The walls are painted with colours from Little Greene’s Re:mix collection, reformulated from leftover paint; the vibrant yellow in the hallway brings Latin warmth and evokes memories of the Corteza Amarilla tree in Costa Rica.
Bolaños-Durman says: “La Casita is the result of an open conversation about reuse, where waste is given new life and made beautiful.” Alexander McKimmie also emphasises that the furnishings and textures of the project were shaped directly by the available materials. This approach not only prioritises sustainability but demonstrates how imperfections can be transformed into beauty.
Bolaños-Durman says: “La Casita is the result of an open conversation about reuse, where waste is given new life and made beautiful.” Alexander McKimmie also emphasises that the furnishings and textures of the project were shaped directly by the available materials. This approach not only prioritises sustainability but demonstrates how imperfections can be transformed into beauty.