Provision of HAKI system scaffolding wrapped with debris netting and additional tube & fitting scaffolds integrated with beams to enable full access to the Malmaison Hotel building exterior and rooftop areas.

The building on the historic Leith waterfront was built in 1883 at a cost of £9,000 and was a bustling hub for Leith’s seafaring maritime community. Originally a sailors’ home, it provided accommodation and facilities, including a canteen and chapel, for sailors and naval officers while docked in port.

Malmaison Hotels took over the Category B listed building located in Tower Place during 1994 and completely revitalised the property. The modern boutique hotel is still one of the chain’s flagship locations and helps attract many visitors who have been pivotal in supporting the regeneration of Leith Dock with shopping, eating, entertainment, and leisure attractions.

To support the main contractor, Insite, with the refurbishment works, we erected a fully boarded, 11-lift scaffold system integrated with a HAKI staircase along the main entrance and Tower Street elevations. The temporary access structure was fully wrapped in debris netting to minimise the risk of falling materials or debris.

The venue remained fully operational throughout the project, with aluminium beams installed to bridge the main entrance and enable clear, unobstructed access to the hotel lobby for residents and visitors. HAKI system scaffolding was used from lifts 1 to 10, while traditional tube-and-fitting scaffolding with ladder access was deployed on the higher levels surrounding the tower clock face, where bespoke configurations were required to facilitate specialist trades.

To enable stonework inspection and remedial works to be carried out, aluminium beams ran horizontally across the tower viewing platform to support multiple suspended boarded platform lifts around the perimeter.

So the hotel could remain open to the public while erecting the HAKI system scaffold around the building exterior, Enigma’s operational team worked closely with representatives from the main contractor, Insite, and Malmaison Hotel to carefully develop a logistical process plan that complemented the programme schedule. This involved Enigma’s in-house design and engineering team creating a comprehensive scaffold design that could facilitate various works being carried out simultaneously around the building exterior. A key consideration when producing the process methods was how to minimise any disruption caused to customers or pedestrians during site immobilisation, material deliveries, and erection/dismantling sequences. The client also requested unobstructed access, and our implemented solution to bridge the HAKI system scaffold across the main entrance area helped keep the hotel fully functional for residential guests and visitors to the restaurant throughout the duration of works.

Additionally, the complex tube and fitting design produced for the roof and tower area provided a cost-effective solution to access multiple elevations that permitted detailed inspections and repairs to be carried out to conserve and protect the iconic Leith landmark building.