Doors Open Day, Edinburgh, Buildings, Links, Doors Open Day Edinburgh

John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust

“The Scottish Civic Trust is delighted to be celebrating 20 years of Doors Open Days in Scotland. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover our country’s rich built heritage. I would encourage everyone, young and old, residents and visitors, to make the most of this fantastic free event.”

Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs, said: “Regardless of whether your motivation is an appreciation for architecture or just nosiness, Doors Open Days offer a once in a year opportunity to get behind the scenes glimpses at a whole host of buildings. Across the country volunteers and coordinators have organised events that will appeal to all ages and I would encourage everyone to find out about what is happening locally and support Doors Open Days in its 20th year.”

Also, this year, the Scottish Civic Trust is publishing a 20-year timeline of highlights from the local programmes along with interviews with key people connected to the event. These can be viewed at www.doorsopendays.org.uk. The timeline and film will contain a mix of facts, photos, audio and video clips relating to Doors Open Days gone by and celebrates the fact that the scheme continues to grow in success each year. Last year’s programme comprised almost 1000 events in all 32 local authority areas of Scotland. With the help of 5,900 volunteers we attracted 260,000 visits, generating an estimated £2.4 million for the economy.

Previously:

Doors Open Days Edinburgh - 2009

Sat 26 & Sun 27 Sep 2009

This year's Doors Open Day, organised by the Cockburn Association in partnership with Edinburgh Trams, is taking place over a whole weekend for the first time.

Buildings include Corstorphine Tower, Nelson Monument, Tanfield, Duddingston House, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh Informatics Building by Bennetts Associates.

The programme will be available mid August in Edinburgh public libraries, the tourist information centre and public buildings after the Festival, with an online version available in late August.

The Doors Open Day Edinburgh co-ordinator is The Cockburn Association, Trunk's Close, 55 High St
Contact: 0131 557 8686

Doors Open Day Edinburgh: buildings for 2007

Doors Open Day Buildings: buildings for 2006

Some buildings open in 2005:
Evolution House
Fettes College
Harmeny School
McEwan Hall
Mansfield Traquair Centre
North Edinburgh Arts Centre
Old College
Royal Lyceum Theatre
Scottish Parliament
Usher Hall

Doors Open Day Edinburgh is generally in the last week of September.

Sixty seven Edinburgh buildings were open to the public as part of Doors Open Day 2004 - the largest number ever.

The Cockburn Association organised Doors Open Day annually

Visiting Glasgow Buildings
Doors Open Day Glasgow is generally in mid-September.
Contact Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT), 42 Miller St, Glasgow

Rosslyn Chapel

Cockburn Association Comment:

Doors Open Days Edinburgh : buildings for 2002

Excerpt:

Doors Open Day Edinburgh

Have you ever walked past a building and wondered what lies behind those closed doors? Well here is your chance to find out for free! Every year the Cockburn Association organises Doors Open Day in Edinburgh. Around sixty buildings will be open to the public on Doors Open Day providing a marvellous day out and an opportunity to explore inside some fascinating buildings. Doors Open Day has been running in Edinburgh since 1991, the idea having been imported from Europe. The original idea germinated in France in 1984 with the first Journée Portes ouvertes des Monuments historiques. This established the basic principle of opening up to visitors, free of charge, buildings and heritage sites normally closed or difficult to access. It also gave us the name Doors Open Day.

In Edinburgh Doors Open Day has been co-ordinated by the Cockburn Association since its inception. Then a few hundred visitors made a few thousand visits to the buildings on offer. Doors Open Day numbers quickly grew and now an estimated 10,000 visitors make over 45,000 individual visits. Some people only visit one or two buildings; the Doors Open Day average seems to be five.

The Cockburn Association (The Edinburgh Civic Trust) is a registered charity working to protect and enhance the beauty of Edinburgh. We organise Doors Open Day to help raise awareness of Edinburgh's built environment and also to highlight the importance of our work. The Cockburn Association has around 1,200 members across Edinburgh and we would ask if you enjoy Doors Open Day that you consider supporting us in our work and become a member.

Further details of the Cockburn and information on Doors Open Day can be found on the Cockburn web site or a printed leaflet can be obtained from a local library or by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Doors Open Day, Cockburn Association, Trunks Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh

Martin Hulse, Cockburn Association Sep 2002

Summary

Every weekend in September Doors Open Day allows access to built heritage in a different Scottish region. Doors Open Days offer the chance to explore some of Scotland's most interesting architecture.

Doors Open Days form Scotland's contribution to European Heritage Days. The first Doors Open Day - La Journée Portes Ouvertes - took place in France in 1984. In 1990 DOD arrived in Scotland, by way of the Netherlands. The pilot projects were held in Ayr and Glasgow. Since then, they have become an annual event across Scotland, co-ordinated by the Scottish Civic Trust, supported by Historic Scotland. Doors Open Days aim to encourage all of us to enjoy and understand our local architectural environment and develop a better awareness of Scotland's rich built heritage and conservation issues.
Together with Scottish Archaeology Month, these events provide valuable information and experiences.

Scotland: Doors Open Days Region by Region: www.doorsopendays.org.uk/part.htm

Contact: Aug-Sep 0141 248 1188 or www.doorsopendays.org.uk
UK Heritage Days (equivalent to Scotland’s Doors Open Days): www.heritagedays.net
European Heritage Days:
www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Heritage/Ehd/

Throughout September the public annually get a chance to visit some of Scotland's most interesting buildings for free.

Scottish Civic Trust Doors Open Days

Information, 22 Aug 2003

For further highlights and detailed information about specific regions, visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk or contact the local co-ordinator.

The Scottish Civic Trust was founded in 1967. It is a charity operating throughout Scotland and is committed to improving the built environment. It aims to encourage:
· Well-informed public concern for the environment in town and country;
· High standards in architecture and planning;
· Conservation and adaptation for re-use of buildings of distinction or historic interest;
· Informed and effective comment in planning matters;
· Improving the aesthetic quality of environments affected by social deprivation, bad design or neglect.

The SCT is based in Glasgow at the Tobacco Merchant's House, 42 Miller Street - a restored category A-listed building.

The Chairman of the Trustees is Simon Miller. The Director is Terry Levinthal, and the Doors Open Days Co-ordinator Marianne McLeod Gilchrist.

The SCT is proud to act as national co-ordinator of Doors Open Days/European Heritage Days, which it introduced to Scotland in 1990.

Since 1990, the SCT has operated the Buildings at Risk register on behalf of Historic Scotland, and publishes the annual Buildings at Risk Bulletin.

Further information about Doors Open Days/European Heritage Days is available from The SCT or from the DOD website

For Scottish Archaeology Month events, contact the Council for Scottish Archaeology on 0131 247 4119
Enquiries regarding Doors Open Days / European Heritage Days Scotland to 0141 221 1466

Doors Open Days, Edinburgh : Architecture Information

Doors Open Days 2010

Doors Open Days Edinburgh - 2009

Doors Open Day Edinburgh

Search this site