Buchanan Lodge, 28 Dirleton Avenue, North Berwick

Buchanan Lodge is a substantial house built in 1900, with significant additions in 1902 and 1911, designed by Peddie and Washington Browne. Originally a two-story house on a square plan, it was later enlarged considerably to the north and east. The original house is visible in the southwest corner, evidenced by crowsteps to the west and the re-entrant angle to the south. The building has a rectangular plan with projecting gabled bays and single-story projections, and exhibits a Scottish 17th-century style incorporating Renaissance detailing. The exterior is largely harled with a red sandstone rubble base course and ashlar dressings. Small-pane glazing is used in sash and case windows, with some lead paning.

The west elevation features an outer gabled bay with a six-sided angle turret (1900), and an elaborate doorpiece in the gable end (added 1902), complete with obelisk finials. A dated panel above the doorway displays a carved sail and a Latin inscription. The door surround is roll-moulded, with a panelled door, the upper panels glazed around 1985. A low, coped parapet wall with a bold balustrade and ball finials fronts the building near the door. Two corniced bipartites are located to the left of the doorway on the ground floor (1902), and a gabled dormer breaks the eaves on the first floor (1911), featuring segmental carving on the dormer head. A northern extension (1902, raised in 1911) mirrors these features, with additional dormers and a canted ground floor bay. Armorial panels are set between the floors of the three bays to the left.

The south elevation presents an L-plan layout, with a projecting ashlar porch and window in the re-entrant angle (1902), featuring a balustraded parapet and four-centred doorway. A full-height, seven-light canted bay is set within a later advanced outer gable. Dormer heads are similar to those on the west elevation. A shouldered wallhead chimney is centrally positioned.

The north elevation features a gabled projection with a bipartite window at ground level. A service court to the left has a coped wall that sweeps up to a doorway, now covered by a piend roof. A recessed gabled bay to the right has a first-floor window.

The east elevation displays a gabled bay with an off-centre apex chimney, a stair window, and irregular openings. Two gabled dormers are located to the left and on the recessed right block. A service court is found in the re-entrant angle to the outer right.

The building is roofed with red plain tiles, featuring ashlar crowsteps with beak skewputts. Ashlar coped and dressed stacks are present.

The interior retains good period features, including high ceilings, oak panelling, decorative chimneypieces with cast-iron grates, a modillion cornice, and plaster strapwork. Brass window latches, finger plates, and knobs are also present, as is a copper-lined servery.

Boundary walls, a gateway, and gatepiers constructed of coped random rubble define the property. The segmentally arched gateway has billet-moulding and roll-moulded surrounds. Square section ashlar gatepiers are topped with generous ball finials. Rounded piers with semi-circular caps mark the south entrance.