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McEwan Hall, Building, Photos, Scottish Concerts, History, Design, Images

McEwan Hall, Edinburgh : Architecture Information + Images

Historic Building, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK



McEwan Hall Edinburgh

Date: 1897

Architect: Robert Rowand Anderson

Address: Teviot Place, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1

Phone: 0131 650 2427

Rowand Anderson's McEwan Hall is a D-shaped hall with two semicircular galleries served by intertwining spiral stairs, one entered from outside and the other from inside the hall. This double helix stair concept is considered to be unique in Scotland.

McEwan Hall McEwan Hall McEwan Hall McEwan Hall
photos © Adrian Welch

The McEwan Hall was built to seat 2000 for graduations, concerts and public functions. The Hall was used by the City of Edinburgh before building their own Usher Hall in 1914 with funds donated by rival Edinburgh brewers.

The interior decoration was by William Palin, who had worked at the Science Museum in London. The female figures around the dome represent the Arts & Sciences. McEwan himself appears in the mural of Minerva in the Grove of Academe, receiving the gift of the Hall.

The main [stepped] entrance to the Hall is from Reid Quad to the south. There is a level access into the hall via Door F which opens off Teviot Place. There is no lift access to the first floor spaces ie the Board Room and Balconies.

McEwan Hall Edinburgh McEwan Hall McEwan Hall Edinburgh McEwan Hall Edinburgh
photos © Adrian Welch

Sir William McEwan, founder of the Edinburgh brewing firm, was MP for Central Edinburgh, a connoisseur of art and a noted philanthropist. Having made their fortune from the city, brewing families such as Usher and McEwan seemed to want to give something back to Edinburgh, and embed their names in the city's daily life.

Located in Bristo Square, adjacent to the University of Edinburgh's Medical School, the McEwan Hall was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson between 1888 and 1897 in a decorative Italian Renaissance style. Like the Usher Hall, it took a long time from design to completion - 23 years. The building was originally planned as part of the University's new Medical School.

The McEwan Hall continues to be used for graduations, concerts, public lectures and examinations by the University of Edinburgh.



 




Robert Adam

Frank Gehry

Jenners

McEwan Hall context - Bristo Square at Festival time: Underbelly
Bristo Square
photo © Adrian Welch

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McEwan Hall context - Edinburgh University buildings

Usher Hall
Usher Hall Edinburgh
photo : City of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Informatics
Potterrow Edinburgh
picture © Keith Hunter

Photos for the McEwan Hall Building page welcome: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

McEwan Hall Edinburgh - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

 


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