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Leith Architecture : Buildings Information + Images

Contemporary Developments in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland

15 Nov 2011 Leith Building - Latest News GIA Education Award goes to Pro Bono Project from Archial's Glasgow Office On 11 Nov 2011, Archial's Glasgow office picked up an Education Design Award from the Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA) for its pro bono work on the Vine Trust Barge. The Vine Trust is an international, interdenominational, volunteering charity which seeks to enable volunteers to make a real and significant difference to some of the poorest children and communities in the world. Vine Trust Barge, Leith Docks: photos courtesy Vine Trust The Vine Trust has two refitted MOD vessels operating as floating medical centres, providing free health check and dental care to some of the poorest communities living along the Amazon river in South America. In addition, they run children’s homes for vulnerable and abandoned children found on the streets of Lima, Peru, providing them with a family environment and safe passage into adulthood. In November 2008, the charity approached Archial to help them refit a third MOD fuel vessel, this time to be located in a permanent mooring in Leith, Edinburgh, which, in addition to providing a fundraising centre and accommodation for their staff, would also act as an educational teaching base, connecting school children across Scotland with the plight of street children in Peru. The ambitious project includes teaching areas, a cinema, exhibition space and a multipurpose outdoor performance stage, as well as office accommodation for the Trust. Thanks to the generosity of Forth Ports, the charity has secured free mooring in front of the historic Port Authority Building at Leith Docks for the next 25 years. In contrast to the heavy, and tired industrial look of the existing ship, new insertions of crisp glass and timber volumes sit within the shell of the old ship, with varying levels of transparency attenuated by western red cedar timber slats. The slats provide both a level of visual accessibility and privacy depending on their viewing angle: the intention is that this will draw people in to investigate the contents, as well as providing a level of solar control to the main space. As this was a charitable project, Archial’s Glasgow Office donated their services free of charge for the duration of the three year project and encouraged a number of other key consultants and material suppliers from the local area to do the same. The project was completed in September 2011 and opened by HRH Princess Royal. Leith Buildings Areas incl. The Shore, Western Harbour, Victoria Dock & The Water of Leith photos © Adrian Welch 26 May 2008 Leith History New Leith building 'Love Leith' housing development, Salamander Street: image © adrian welch 2006 Dr Bell’s Centre by Smith Scott Mullan Architects - Leith building: photograph: Michael Wolchover / Paul Zanre For Granton's buildings see base of page To reach Leith from the City Centre there are numerous buses, but to reach The Shore use No.1, 16 or 22. On foot it is quite a trek down Leith Walk but if you attempt it don't miss the famous and original Valvona & Crolla restaurant and delicatessen extraordinaire (new Valvona & Crolla restaurant in the New Town). Top of the Walk photo © Adrian Welch Further down Elm Row (the top of Leith Walk) was a theatre: Queen Margaret University Gateway Theatre 2000 Law & Dunbar-Nasmith photo © Adrian Welch Gateway Theatre - now closed Hypostyle Architects' Royal Mail building is on Brunswick Road, off Leith Walk. On the other side of the road is the former LRT bus garage - Shrub Place Architects' Studio, 378 Leith Walk 2002 Smith Scott Mullan Associates picture from architect At the Foot of the Walk, continue through the Kirkgate shopping precinct Edinburgh Property Centre, Leith Walk 2003 Smith Scot Mullan Associates picture from architect New Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Foot of the Walk 2002 CDA photo © Adrian Welch Make your way east to the Shore, the Water of Leith As most Scots will know Leith used to be a rough quarter of town, actually a separate city from 1827 until 1921: cabbies are fond of telling the story about the Boundary Bar half way down Leith Walk (still there, opposite Pilton St.) where punters would cross to the Leith side of the bar after the earlier closing time in the Edinburgh end), but despite the continued presence of the red light district, the area is now teeming with trendy loft apartments and expensive restaurants. Aerial Map of Leith's centre - The Shore : Leith Map bridge photo © Adrian Welch Leith is fortunate to have kept a sizeable proportion of old buildings and the area around the Shore is fascinating, helped by good refurbishments. Queen Mary (of Guise) had her base here, Charles I was fond of playing golf on Leith Links (1640s) and George IV chose to alight here (plaque on wall opposite grey ship) in 1822. photo © Adrian Welch However, as you progress around the former industrial areas of the dock towards Newhaven via Victoria Dock there are appearing many new additions of questionable architectural quality. If you are peckish Leith has a good array of quality restaurants: some, such as Fishers Restaurant and Skippers Restaurant need prior booking. I recommend Michelin-starred Restaurant Martin Wishart, 54 The Shore, for sumptuous food in calm surroundings. photo © Adrian Welch If you look West along the Shore towards the Raj Restaurant you can see Coalhill: Coalhill Housing, Coalhill 2001 Allan Murray Architects photo © Adrian Welch This Buredi housing project sits on the wharf side in a prominent position looking down the Water of Leith. The crisp white style is typical of Allan Murray Architects Phase II continues the barrel-shaped river frontage into the area of parkland to the West with a semi-enclosed raised podium to the south. Ronaldson's Wharf Housing 2003 Dignan Read Dewar with Fraser Brown Mackenna photo © Adrian Welch The scheme is four to six storeys high, consists of 120 flats, with retail along the Water of Leith walkway. Close by is Gregor Shore's Crescent By The Shore 62 two & three-bed apartments, on Coburg St / Dock St corner Couper Street Housing 2002 Campbell & Arnott Architects photo © Adrian Welch St Ninian's Leith - resoration, Quayside Street 2000 Simpson & Brown Architects photo © Adrian Welch late 16th century Dutch tower, former North Leith Parish Church Walk back down The Shore and cross the bridge; on the right is the former Customs House, Commercial Street, 1812 by architect Robert Reid (sadly closed to the public, used by the National Museum of Scotland as a store - see small black & white image to right, from McKean's guidebook), interior remodelled by William Burn, photograph from Charles McKean Further along is the massive form of Rennie & Patterson's Warehouses (for wine and whisky, colour image to right) dating from 1810 and renovated in late 90's to residential and restaurants. Commercial Street marks where the Leith seashore used to be - Leith dock buildings: take a right here Commercial Quay (pool with fountain; restaurants with attractive canopies) which used to be a Dock and latterly a cable storage area. If you continue up to the old Quay (the old shoreline) you find: photo © Adrian Welch Infinity, 108 Commercial Quay 2000 Arcade Architects Fresh insertion by Arcade into the old Leith Naval College; now moved 50m to West (below), amended entry for new owners Infinity. 142 Commercial Street Arcade Architects picture from the architect Commercial Quay Leith To the East is the beige block of the Scottish Executive: Scottish Executive, Victoria Quay 1995 RMJM picture from the architect Solid building in symmetrical three-storey shape possibly to recall warehouse that existed previously on the site. Scottish Executive Leith Head North through car park Ocean Terminal, Western Harbour 2001 Conran & Partners picture from the architect Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre Britannia Visitor Centre, Western Harbour 1998 Conran & Partners photo © Adrian Welch This building due to become the Cruise Line Terminal Guggenheim proposed 2002 Frank Gehry with Farningham Macreadie Partnership picture from the architect Scottish Guggenheim Western Harbour photo © Adrian Welch Flour mill & newly-formed land: this area is being developed by Forth Ports plc The Element Cooper Cromar Architects picture from the architect Platinum Point 2003- Gilberts Architects picture from the architect Britannia Quay - Lindsay Road 2004 Hackland + Dore Architects photo © Adrian Welch Ocean Heights, Western Harbour 2002- Holmes Partnership picture from the architect After Stewart Milne Builders discontinued their involvement, the new developer, Cala Homes, issued revised images 2001: Skyliner Office Development, Ocean Drive 2001- Terry Farrell & Partners photo © Adrian Welch Ocean Point, adj. Ocean Terminal, Leith Docks - only one half of scheme built You can return by the listed John Leckie Bridge - formerly a revolving bridge to allow boats entry - then right past the harpoon gun (interesting historical text, also horses used to race here along the Links) - and past the former Seaman's Mission, now a hotel: Malmaison Hotel Leith photo © Adrian Welch An interior refurbishment for the Malmaison Edinburgh has been designed by Jestico + Whiles; Ferrier Crawford were executive architects with the original refurbishment being by Rob Hunter Architects in 1992-94. More images at Edinburgh Restaurants Adjacent to the Hotel is Fishers - darkly atmospheric pub with celebrated food - under the former Signal Tower (1685, Mylne), a windmill then a defensive position in the Napoleonic Wars: photo © Adrian Welch Leith was a walled town in the 16th century and the remains of Cromwell's Citadel can be seen half way along Commercial Street on the left (1560). Proposed Scottish Parliament, Victoria Dock 1998 Benson & Forsyth picture from the architect One of three sites initially proposed for the new Scottish Parliament: Port of Leith Housing Association, Constitution St 2002 Lee Boyd picture from the architect Port of Leith Housing Association HQ Telectra House, North Junction St photo © Adrian Welch demolished late 2003 despite campaign by Cockburn Association a full description of Granton is found at Edinburgh Buildings + Granton Harbour picture from the architect Granton Waterfront interview Contemporary Buildings Leith Houses News Excerpts re Leith Architecture & Buildings Leith Theatre Design revealed for tower at Leith Theatre complex, part of £9m scheme to refurbish/redevelop six historic Leith buildings incl. Leith Victoria Boxing Club, Lambs House, Citadel Youth Club, St James Church & the Hindu Temple Apr 2006 photo © Adrian Welch Ciao Leith CiAO won an invited competition from a shortlist of 5 practices, to design Leith Creative Arts & Education Centre Crescent By The Shore, Leith by Gregor Shore Crescent Housing, Leith image © Adrian Welch Leith Community Treatment Centre Leith Community Treatment Centre: designed for Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust. The £;5.5m building by designlab went on site Jul 2002 with Gleesons as contractor, to complete in Oct 2003 Leith Bingo A Former bingo hall and cinema in Leith is to reopen as a massive Egyptian-themed nightspot. More than £3 m is being spent turning the historic building in Leith’s Great Junction Street into a luxurious haven for clubbers. Jan 2002 Leith Skyhouse David Marks, who designed the London Eye, is expected to visit Leith later this week to investigate whether the area is suitable for his new affordable Skyhouse plans. David hosts a lecture on the London Eye in Edinburgh on Thursday. Councillor Elizabeth Maginnis, chairman of Waterfront Edinburgh Ltd, the company responsible for the regeneration project in Granton in the north of Edinburgh, welcomed Mr Marks’ interest in Leith. May 03 Leith Docks – The Future Forth Ports Ltd has submitted an outline planning application for a £19m development of 480 flats and offices on Ocean Drive, Leith - CALA Homes Albert Dock, Leith image © Adrian Welch Up to 18,000 new homes - 5,400 family homes and 4,500 affordable properties - could be created at Leith Docks. The proposals are part of a draft framework, produced by Forth Ports in conjunction with Edinburgh City Council, which has set out a 15-year vision for Leith Docks. Also proposed is a new cruise liner terminal, an extension to the Ocean Terminal shopping centre, a major new civic space around the Imperial Dry Dock, and a marine windfarm. Leith - Assembly St picture from the architect Sutherland Hussey Architects Building: Assembly Street Leith Views around Leith Constitution St photo © frazer hay Seafield Sewage Works image © frazer hay Leith : restaurants Enlarge Map

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