Contemporary Developments in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
edinburgh architecture
Architecture News
World 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
Further down Elm Row (the top of Leith Walk) was a theatre:
Queen Margaret University Gateway Theatre
2000
Law & Dunbar-Nasmith
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
At the Foot of the Walk, continue through the Kirkgate shopping precinct
Edinburgh Property Centre, Leith Walk
2003
Smith Scot Mullan Associates
New Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Foot of the Walk
2002
CDA
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
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.
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.
If you look West along the Shore towards the Raj Restaurant you can see Coalhill:
Coalhill Housing, Coalhill
2001
Allan Murray Architects
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
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
St Ninian's Leith - resoration, Quayside Street
2000
Simpson & Brown Architects
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,
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:
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
Commercial Quay Leith
To the East is the beige block of the Scottish Executive:
Scottish Executive, Victoria Quay
1995
RMJM
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
Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre
Britannia Visitor Centre, Western Harbour
1998
Conran & Partners
This building due to become the Cruise Line Terminal
Guggenheim
proposed 2002
Frank Gehry with Farningham Macreadie Partnership
Scottish Guggenheim
Western Harbour
Flour mill & newly-formed land: this area is being developed by Forth Ports plc
The Element
Cooper Cromar Architects
Platinum Point
2003-
Gilberts Architects
Britannia Quay - Lindsay Road
2004
Hackland + Dore Architects
Ocean Heights, Western Harbour
2002-
Holmes Partnership
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
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
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:
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
One of three sites initially proposed for the new Scottish Parliament:
Port of Leith Housing Association, Constitution St
2002
Lee Boyd
Port of Leith Housing Association HQ
Telectra House, North Junction St
demolished late 2003 despite campaign by Cockburn Association
a full description of Granton is found at
Edinburgh Buildings + Granton Harbour
Granton Waterfront interview
Contemporary Buildings
Edinburgh : back to index
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 06
Ciao Leith
CiAO won an invited competition from a shortlist of 5 practices, to design Leith Creative Arts & Education Centre for Out of The Blue Trust. The site is within a listed, former TA drill hall on Dalmeny Street.
The proposals include flexible studio accommodation, performance & exhibition spaces, creche, cafe & a sculpture court. The design is inspired by monastic & souk patterns. Phase 1 is 500K and subject to Arts lottery funding.
A proposed landscaped community park links to the adjacent building. 'It will fulfill vital cultural needs for the city'.
Feb 04
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 02
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
Sutherland Hussey Architects Building: Assembly Street Leith
Views around Leith:
Constitution St
photo © frazer hay
Seafield Sewage Works
image © frazer hay
Edinburgh Church Buildings
Edinburgh Houses
Leith : restaurants
Edinburgh News : back to index
Comments / photos for the Leith Architecture page welcome:
info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk
Leith Buildings : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt