12 Swanston Village, Edinburgh

12 Swanston Village is a pair of small single-storey cottages that have been converted into one dwelling. Located on the west side of a group of early to mid-18th century thatched cottages at the foot of the Pentland Hills, this property is on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The cottages were refurbished between 1959 and 1962 by J Wilson Paterson for the Edinburgh Corporation, and number 12 has undergone alterations in the early 21st century. The ground level of the building follows the slope of the site, with the south corner positioned below ground level.

The building has a rectangular plan, and the front (east) elevation features four bays, consisting of two two-bay cottages, each with a door to the right and a window to the left, along with a very small window to the right. The rear (west) elevation includes two doors, three larger windows, and a small ventilator or pantry window. The south gable has two windows, with an attic floor added in the early 21st century. The exterior is rendered and painted random rubble on rough rubble foundations, with deep window recesses and smoothed margins.

The window openings are small and fitted with timber sash and case frames that have horns and various multi-pane glazing patterns. The doors are vertical boarded timber with small rectangular glazed panels. The right door opens outward to serve as a shutter for an inner glazed door. The roof is thatched with reed, featuring a concrete ridge and stone skews. It has squared concrete gable chimney stacks with ventilated clay cans and cast iron rainwater goods.

The interior, observed in 2017, mainly showcases early 21st century detailing. There is a thick internal cross wall separating the two former cottages and deep window sills. An early 21st century staircase leads to the attic floor.