Edwin Janssen

Merchant’s House Garden

Tucked away in a secluded, long-vacant plot in the town centre, the project played a vital role in the Kirkcaldy Riggs Townscape Heritage Initiative’s efforts to rejuvenate the local area. Since reopening in 2007, the Merchant’s House has become a vibrant hub for artists, designers, craftspeople, and cultural businesses, alongside the Kirkcaldy Tourist Information Centre.

Designed by Tracy & Edwin in consultation with landscape architect John Richards, the contemporary garden is built around the concept of “islands of activity.” These distinct zones, including an events podium, organic allotments, a large communal table, and a reflective space, are nestled within a lush green landscape. While the historic stone walls were carefully preserved, new vertical planting was introduced to complement the existing wild creepers and succulents.

The garden’s heritage as a productive space lives on through its organic allotments, which are managed by the Friends of the Garden group to grow vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers. Ultimately, the garden serves two purposes: acting as a peaceful daily retreat for locals, and providing a dynamic platform for social and cultural events, anchored by a permanent communal table designed for gatherings centred around food, cooking, and community history.

The Kirkcaldy Riggs Gardens Project was supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council with funding from Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise Fife, Scottish Executive (Quality of Life) and BSkyB.