Leith Architecture - Building: Photos

Leith, Edinburgh: Leith architecture, buildings, Edinburgh Docks

incl. The Shore, Western Harbour, Victoria Dock & The Water of Leith

Leith Architecture




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:
Dr Bell’s Centre
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) is a theatre:


Law & Dunbar-Nasmith
Queen Margaret University Gateway Theatre 1999-2000

Gateway Theatre

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
Leith Walk

Smith Scott Mullan Architects
Architects' Studio, 378 Leith Walk, 2002

At the Foot of the Walk, continue through the Kirkgate shopping precinct

Leith Architecture
Smith Scot Mullan Associates
Edinburgh Property Centre, Leith Walk, 2003

Leith Walk

CDA
New Kirkgate Shopping Centre, Foot of the Walk, 2001-2002

Make your way east to the Shore, the Water of Leith

Foot of Leith Walk
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 (right): Leith Map
The Shore, Leith
Edinburgh Docks
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. Leith Architecture
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:
Leith Architecture
Allan Murray Architects
Coalhill Housing, Coalhill, 2000-2001
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

£3.5m

Phase II was at Planning stage late 2003 and continues the barrel-shaped river frontage into the area of parkland to the West with a semi-enclosed raised podium to the south.
Edinburgh Docks Leith Architecture
Dignan Read Dewar with Fraser Brown Mackenna
Housing, Ronaldson's Wharf, 2000-2003

This project finally received planning permission in early 2001, for developer Miller Homes. 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


The Shore
Edinburgh Docks

Campbell & Arnott Architects
Couper Street Housing, 2000-2002

Leith Architecture

Simpson & Brown Architects
St Ninian's Leith, Quayside Street, rest. 2000

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, The Shore
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:
Arcade Architects
Infinity, 108 Commercial Quay, 1999;2000

Fresh insertion by Arcade into the old Leith Naval College; now moved 50m to West (below), amended entry for new owners Infinity.
Leith Architecture
Arcade Architects
142 Commercial Street

Commercial Quay Leith



To the East is the beige block of the Scottish Executive:
Leith Architecture
RMJM Scotland Ltd
Scottish Executive, Victoria Quay, 1995
Private Solid building in symmetrical three-storey shape possibly to recall warehouse that existed previously on the site.

Scottish Executive Leith

£47m

Head North through car park

Victoria DockLeith Architecture

Conran & Partners
Ocean Terminal, Western Harbour, 1999-2001

Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre

£67m
Leith Architecture
Conran & Partners
Britannia Visitor Centre, Western Harbour, 1997-98

This building will become the Cruise Line Terminal.
Western Harbour
Guggenheim
Frank Gehry in partnership with Farningham Macreadie Partnership, Edinburgh, proposed 2002

Scottish Guggenheim
Leith Architecture
Western Harbour

Flour mill (right) & newly-formed land: this area is being developed by Forth Ports plc
Western Harbour
The Element The Element development

Gilberts Architects
Platinum Point, 2003-

Leith Architecture
Hackland + Dore Architects
Britannia Quay - Lindsay Road, 2001-2003/4
Western Harbour
Holmes Partnership
Ocean Heights, Western Harbour, 2002-

After Stewart Milne Builders discontinued their involvement, the new developer, Cala Homes, issued revised images 2001: Skyliner
Leith Architecture
Terry Farrell & Partners
Office Development , Ocean Drive, 2001-

Ocean Point, adj. Ocean Terminal, Leith Docks
Edinburgh Docks
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
Leith
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 (right).  
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).
Leith Architecture
Benson & Forsyth
Proposed Scottish Parliament, Victoria Dock, 1998

One of three sites initially proposed for the new Scottish Parliament:

Edinburgh
Lee Boyd
Port of Leith Housing Association, Constitution St., 2001-2002
New HQ for Port of Leith Housing Association
Leith Architecture
Telectra House, North Junction St

demolished late 2003 despite campaign by Cockburn Association
Leith, Edinburgh
a full description of Granton is found at

Edinburgh Buildings + Granton Harbour

Granton Waterfront interview
Leith Architecture




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
TA drill hall, 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
Edinburgh Architecture News
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
Leith Buildings
photo © frazer hay

Seafield Sewage Works
Leith Buildings
image © frazer hay
10.08.03

Edinburgh Church Buildings
Edinburgh Houses




More Leith Buildings welcome: info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

Leith : restaurants