Ocean Terminal, Leith - Shops

Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Leith, Edinburgh: Conran & Partners with Keppie Architects for Forth Ports plc

Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh: 0131 555 8888

Ocean Terminal, Western Harbour, Leith, Edinburgh
1999-2001


Ocean Terminal Leith: images from Conran & Partners

Ocean Terminal: Building Outline


photograph 2007 © Jason Baxter

Ocean Terminal is an urban shopping centre & entertainment complex designed by Conran & Partners in London and handed over to Keppie Design of Glasgow at Stage E: key tenants - Debenhams & BHS at either end adjacent to 'bookend' multi-storey car parks.


Ocean Terminal Edinburgh: images from Conran & Partners



Ocean Terminal: Description

Monolithic design with triple-height Food Terrace looking out to Fife: much better than other recent shopping complexes. Pocket parks are placed at either end of the Ocean Terminal with the western one connecting to what was until 2002 the Britannia Visitor Centre (Conran & Partners, 1998) which is soon to become the Cruise Line Terminal: Leith hosts around 60 cruises per annum.


Ocean Terminal Shopping, Edinburgh: images © Adrian Welch
The Ocean Terminal is steel-framed and clad in reconstituted stone and extensively glazed. A key focal point of the building is the off-centre Rotunda on the axis of the southern approach road. The new Britannia Visitor Centre is accessed at this point as is a rooftop viewing terrace. Unusually the shopping centre is sandwiched between two curvcaeous car park bookends.

Conran & Partners were also the masterplanners for the area of Leith Docks under Forth Ports plc ownership - ie the vast majority - and have worked alongside Ian White Associates (Edinburgh Park landscape too).


The Ocean Terminal, Leith: images from Conran & Partners

It is important that Forth Ports do not make the same mistakes that LDDC made on the Isle of Dogs and that quality comes with profits to encourage both long-term prosperity for the area and architectural integrity.


Ocean Terminal Shopping, Leith: images © Adrian Welch

Compared to typical Shopping Malls, Ocean Terminal sets high standards and its setting 'by the sea' is inspirational even if the dockside could have been better exploited. Forth Ports are to be congratulated on trying hard and having suceeded in achieving a suitable urban density and an innovative shopping experience. The Ocean Terminal looks better from within!

Initial Ocean Terminal sketch plan:-

Ocean Terminal Shopping, Edinburgh: image from Conran & Partners

Leith Docks masterplanners
2001: Conran Design Partnership (now Conran & Partners)
2003: Cooper Cromar Architects.
2004: Robert Adam Architects + RMJM


Ocean Terminal Shopping, Edinburgh: images © Adrian Welch

Ocean Terminal:
2001-2003 UPDATE

The building opened on Sir Terence Conrans' birthday, 4 Oct, 2001. When completed the Ocean Terminal stuck out a bit, but high-rise buildings are shooting up all around. The best way to make your mind up is to visit of course.
Views of the building are mixed: most people really like the Food Terrace with its views out to sea, but there were many column inches re unlet shop units in the first year, although this is normal for new shopping malls.

In 2004 one half of Terry Farrell's building to the south-east was full completed providing some high-rise context and Skyliner should follow soon, to the south.


Ocean Terminal - Zinc Bar & Grill: image © adrian welch



Edinburgh Shopping Malls, Retail Parks:-
Kinnaird Park Shops, southeast Edinburgh
Ocean Terminal, Leith
ASDA Store Edinburgh Shopping Centre, The Jewel, southeast Edinburgh
St James Centre, central Edinburgh
Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, south Edinburgh
Gyle Shopping Centre, west Edinburgh

Edinburgh : back to index

Scottish buildings by Keppie:
Edinburgh New Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh
Ocean Terminal - Executive Architects
BBC Glasgow - Executive Architects

Another BHS in Edinburgh is on Princes St: British Home Stores
Another Debenhams in Edinburgh is also on Princes St: Debenhams Edinburgh

Edinburgh Cinemas:
Edinburgh Filmhouse
Ster Century, Ocean Terminal
UCI Fort Kinnaird
UGC Fountain Park
VUE, Omni Edinburgh

Ocean Terminal Edinburgh architects : Conran & Partners

Ocean Terminal: many building images archived but still available: info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

Ocean Terminal - page: adrian welch / isabelle lomholt