James Craig (1744-95) famously won the competition to masterplan an Edinburgh New Town when only 22 years old in 1766; Edinburgh New Town gradually absorbed much of the professional classes from the increasingly ramshackle Old Town. The New Town was mostly built of sandstone from Craigleath Quarry. Princes Street (1805) is fairly uninteresting despite its fame, but Charlotte Square and George Street (after George III) contain many good works.
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The following entry is a bit of a detour for those on foot; if it's too far then start at The Bonham or continue from the last tour at The Caledonian:
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Dean Gallery - refurbishment, 73 Belford Road
1999
Terry Farrell & Co.
Refurbishment of former Orphanage by Hamilton, 1833. Farrell was also responsible for the recent masterplan for both this building and the adjacent Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art - SNGMA
Across the road to the West is the SNGMA: |
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Scotland's National Gallery of Modern Art - refurbishment
Terry Farrell & Co.
SNGMA - former John Watson's School by Burn, 1825, The masterplan involves co-ordinated sculptures, landscaping. etc. |
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Earthworks - 'Ueda' at the SNGMA
2002
Charles Jencks with Terry Farrell |
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Former Gymnasium 0 rear of SNGMA
1996
Lee Boyd
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The Bonham, 35 Drumsheugh Gardens
1998
Ron Galloway - Architect
Jonathan Speirs & Assocs. - lighting & interior consultant
Three Grade A listed Terrace houses combined to create one of the top 20 best new hotels in the world
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| Next head East towards the centre, down Chester St., right into Queensferry St. - at No.32 is one of three Pizza Expresses by Malcolm Fraser Architects in the city (right) - then left to: |
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The home of big finance with billions rumoured to pass through the Square's dozen or so institutions every year. Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) was born at No. 16, Lister at No.9 and Earl Haig at No.34.
The square was designed by Robert Adam who died before its completion.
West Register House, Charlotte Square, 1814, Robert Reid
powerful building occupying former church of St. George with strong vertical emphasis: a superb endpiece to George Street.
Georgian House (NTS), No. 7 Charlotte Square, 1792-, Robert Adam - protected and reposed work. |
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80 George Street
Hugh Martin Partnership
Principal Edinburgh New Town street: George Street buildings
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Edinburgh's most famous street beside the Royal Mile. Princes Street 'Galleries' - original proposal in 2002 for half a mile of mall under Princes St. - current proposal involves mall from Waverley to the Mound.
Edinburgh Galleries Shortlist:
Allan Murray Architects - winner, Dec 2002
Erick van Egeraat
Gareth Hoskins Architects
Page and Park Architects
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Princes Street Vision: Malcolm Fraser Architects in conjunction with the Cockburn Association & the City of Edinburgh Council announce major reworking of Princes St with malls through to Rose St
Just west of Castle St, on Princes St: New Club by Alan Reiach, Architect & British Home Stores (Bhs) by Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners; nearby is Debenhams |
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Oloroso rooftop restaurant, 37 Castle Street
Richard Murphy Architects
Atop a listed Basil Spence building is Richard Murphy Architect's conversion with base-build by Comprehensive Design Architects
Designed for the late restaureteur James Sankey and the ITV Chef of the Year 2000 Tony Singh, Oloroso includes a rooftop terrace with views to Fife and the Castle |
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| Centotre restaurant, 103 George Street |
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| Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street |
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Royal Scottish Academy (RSA), Princes Street
1822-26; 1831-36
William Playfair
'Greek' style building, Weston Link insertions by John Miller & Partners, Phase I complete mid 2003; Phase II early 2005
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National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound
1845-58; (1978)
William Playfair
A short detour to George St. will take you to ricks:
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Rick's Bar, Hotel & Restaurant, 55a Frederick St
Malcolm Fraser Architects
subtle, sedate contemporary interior refurbishment
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| George Hotel |
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| St Andrews & St Georges Church |
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| The Dome restaurant |
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| Le Monde restaurant |
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Opal Lounge, George St
2002
Malcolm Fraser Architects
Creative basement conversion as quality nightclub
Back on Princes St is the monument to Sir Walter Scott:
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Scott Monument, Princes St
World-famous Victorian monument
Across the road is Marks & Spencers, and Jenners, Victorian Department Store |
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Jenners, Princes St
often described as the Harrods of the North, refurbished by Michael Laird Architects
Princes Mall, (former Waverley Market) Princes St, 1984, BDP; subterranean shopping complex with black 'spikes' above ground evoking the brooding form of St. Mary's Cathedral at the far end of Princes St
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H&M Edinburgh - Former C&A Store + Jays Dept. Store, Princes St
2004
3D Architects
Burtons Department Store |
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Balmoral Hotel, North Bridge/Princes St
1902
Beattie
Opposite the Balmoral, across North Bridge, is GPO: |
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Former General Post Office - GPO
1861-66
Robert Matheson; additions by Oldrieve 1909; HM Partnership 2004
The shell has been retained and has been redeveloped
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General Register House, Princes St, (opposite North Bridge/Balmoral Hotel)
1774
Robert Adam
From here one can head North to the later phase of New Town - down from Queen Street - or head up Calton Hill. |
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Waverley Station
Edinburgh's main railway sits between the Old Town and the New Town. Numerous proposals to redevelop, especially in the last decade
Head back to St. Andrew·s Square or visit |
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St James Centre
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Hugh Martin Partnership
John Lewis Edinburgh, Leith St
1987
Basil Spence
'Food on 1': St James Centre upper level conversion
Comprehensive Design Architects - CDA
Opposite the latter is possibly the site of the largest new development in Edinburgh:
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Calton Square + omni edinburgh, Calton Hill
2002
Allan Murray Architects
Calton Square offices
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Leith St Bridge
Broadway Malyan Architects
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Square contains Melville Monument (image right). Going clockwise, starting in the east side, we have the following:-
Dundas Mansion
1774
Chambers
Royal Bank of Scotland branch
In the south-east corner is the red sandstone Prudential Assurance at 14 South St.Andrew St by Waterhouse
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Scottish Provident Building
1961
Rowand Anderson Kininmonth & Paul
Located in the south-west corner at No.6, currently empty, well-balanced facade |
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Former Scottish Widows building
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Basil Spence, architect
In the south-west corner (Sainsbury's at street level) is a rather austere retail / commercial property: St Andrew Square
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Former Caledonian Insurance Co., George Street
1938-59
Thomson & Connell
Black marble, flanking statues, copper roof and Art Deco fenestration and decoration
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No.10 George Street
1994
Reiach and Hall Architects
Quiet, mildly decorative and vertically-ordered insertion
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| In the north-west on the corner with George Street is Standard Life Assurance. |
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The Walk incl. Harvey Nichols, St Andrew Square
2002
Comprehensive Design + Lifschutz Davidson Architects |
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Valvona & Crolla restaurant off Multrees Walk
Reiach and Hall Architects |
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| Bank of Scotland HQ., east side of St Andrew's Square |
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Walk North towards Queens Street:
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen St
1895
Sir Robert Rowand Anderson
a 'must see' building |
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Further along is No.9 Queen St:
Royal College of Physicians
1845
Hamilton
late Greek Revival
No. 8 Queen St
1771
Robert Adam
BBC Edinburgh Offices, 5 Queen St
jmarchitects
Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 & 29 Queen St
Simpson & Brown with Michael Laird Architects
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The second phase of Edinburgh New Town - Reid; Elliot; Playfair; Graham; Raeburn - was built between 1802 and around 1823, to the North and off the plateau (one of the finest elements is Moray Place, right).
Edinburgh New Town Phase 2 |
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Dublin Street Lane
1993 & 2000
Richard Murphy Architects
Private Housing
Nominee for Stirling Prize 2000
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You can continue on your own tour to William Playfair's
Royal Crescent, 1823, Gillespie Graham's Moray Place, 1822, Playfair's St Stephen's Church, 1828 at St. Vincent St. Great King Street (R.L.Stevenson lived at 17 Heriot Row)
Down on the Water of Leith is a Pizza Express by Malcolm Fraser Architects at 1 Deanhaugh St (right); close by some contemporary housing, see below: |
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Dean Bank Lane housing project
2005
Richard Murphy Architects
Private Housing
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17 Circus Lane
2000
Richard Murphy Architects
Private Houses
Two Circus Lane Houses for Mike Gordon
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Circus Lane - 'Japanese house'
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Richard Murphy Architects
Controversial mews house |
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Moray Place
1996 & 2000
Richard Murphy Architects
Private House
Refurbishment of a listed New Town house won one of Scotland's seven RIBA Awards in 2002, shortlisted for RIAS Scottish Building Award 2002
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Calton Hill
The scattered monuments on this hill go a long way to earning Edinburgh the sobriquet of Athens of the North:
Calton Hill
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Duguld Stewart Monument
1831
Playfair |
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City Observatory
1818
Playfair
Small domed building in centre of hill |
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National Monument (to the Napoleonic Dead)
1829
Cockerell, exec. Playfair
Designed as a folly (disputed), based on Acropolis
Scottish National Monument |
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Nelson's Monument
1816
Burn
Dropping ball on top pole signalled time to ships in the Firth of Forth.
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St Andrew's House
1939
Tait
Architecture Competition winner |
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Calton Old Burial Ground, Waterloo Place
Obelisk to Political Martyrs
Memorial to David Hume
Governor's House
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Royal High School
1829
Thomas Hamilton
Opposite the Royal High School, to the south-east:
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Burns Monument, Regent Road
1830
Thomas Hamilton
About thirty yards East is the entry down a winding lane to Calton Burial Ground:
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Calton Burial Ground
A short walk to the East along Regent Terrace (or Regent Road) brings you to Casa Murphy:
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17 Royal Terrace Mews
1993
Richard Murphy Architects |
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