The area to the south of the Canongate was masterplanned by Edinburgh-based architect John Hope who selected mainly young design-led practices to participate in its re-development.
All the contemporary buildings on this page emerged from this masterplan. The RFAC (5) was the first completed. Most of these buildings are also listed in the Old Town Tour but gathered here for people interested in how they relate to the masterplan. The North Holyrood Masterplan has few detractors and is widely viewed in Edinburgh as a successful model for marrying the new to the old.
The famous Old Town 'herringbone pattern' drawing (right), shows the skeletal structure of the High Street. It's backbone follows the glacial crag-and-tail ridge line from the volcanic plug of the Castle rock down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. There are hundreds of vennels or closes running off it; in the past there were more but buildings such as the Crowne Plaza have destroyed many. In the last two decades some have been restored. drawing from Charles McKean
West Holyrood Masterplan: John Hope, Architect
Masterplan : shops, offices, flats, new academic buildings, underground parking, gardens
Campus owners: Edinburgh University
Location: between Royal Mile & Holyrood Road
01.09.03
Buildings / photos for the North Holyrood Masterplan Architecture pages welcome:
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North Holyrood - Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt