This project proposes a textile donation sorting centre serving seven charity shops across Edinburgh, addressing the growing pressure placed on staff and volunteers within an overwhelmed donation system.
Set within the Granton Lighthouse Depot, a Category C listed building currently identified as at-risk, the design reuses a historic site once used for the storage, maintenance, and distribution of lighthouse equipment. This context informs the proposal, reimagining the depot as a hub for donation, sorting, repair, and redistribution.
A central “sorting spine” organises movement through the building, structuring a continuous process from donation to distribution. Donors are required to pre-sort items on entry, prioritising suitable contributions, while volunteers work within a shared sorting hall supported by repair, storage, and distribution spaces. The project makes visible the hidden labour behind charity retail.
