Holyrood building, Edinburgh, Scotland by Malcolm Fraser Architects
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Address: The Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton's Close, Canongate, Edinburgh
image © Adrian Welch
Opening Times
check with the Library, but at time of writing:
Mon to Fri 11am - 6pm; Sat 1pm - 5pm
image by Keith Hunter from Malcolm Fraser Architects
SPL - contact +44 (0)131 557 2876
image by Keith Hunter from Malcolm Fraser Architects
A grant from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund was the main finance for The Scottish Poetry Library building.
Scottish Poetry Library: image © Adrian Welch
Scottish Poetry Library, Crichton's Close, off Canongate
1999
Malcolm Fraser Architects
image by Keith Hunter from Malcolm Fraser Architects
Sensitive steel-framed addition to another close off the Royal Mile using oak cladding and blue glazed terracotta tiles.
image © Adrian Welch
The Scottish Poetry Library presents a highly articulate façade to the person emerging from the close’s narrow entry: the majority of users will only see this façade and it is weighted accordingly.
image © Adrian Welch
Entry to the Library is in the centre between the clean lines of a stone lectern and its pleinair‘audience’ the concrete steps - double-height for seating, single for access. This mini-Greek theatre should enjoy greater use when the dust and noise from the adjacent construction site abate.
image by Keith Hunter from Malcolm Fraser Architects
The steps and terrace to which they lead are protected by delightfully-detailed lead balustrade and the mass is clad in blue glazed terracotta tiles. These contrast well with the Scottish Poetry Library's warm oak vertical-board cladding whose bolt fixings help create the façade's rhythm.
Scottish Poetry Library: image © Adrian Welch
Above the boarding lies a continuous mesh canopy; above this a glass clerestorey joins the oversailing roof with a glimpse of the lime green ceiling that continues inside. Note the inscription underfoot at the Scottish Poetry Library entry - 'By leaves we live' - by Edinburgh notable, Sir Patrick Geddes and the connected leaf-patterned stone relief.
Scottish Poetry Library: image © Adrian Welch
Inside you are drawn past reception and under the mezzanine which covers half the floor, towards the light. The double-height space is partially separated from the mezzanine with stair and lift creating just enough privacy. Oak is used throughout the Scottish Poetry Library, notably on the ground-floor boarding with black vinyl for the stairs and mezzanine floor, stainless steel for the balustrading and tern-coated stainlees steel for the roof.
Scottish Poetry Library: image © Adrian Welch
The clerestorey to the East wall is angled (see from mezzanine) to align with the height of the old rubble wall beyond. The ground floor is connected to this wall using oak-clad loopholes currently containing plants internally. All Scottish Poetry Library furniture is designed by the architect. The ceiling contains large circular rooflights between dark grey beams. The librarians love the lime-coloured ceiling - "it makes us feel like we're in a wood"
image from Malcolm Fraser Architects
In summary the Scottish Poetry Library is a jewel of a building which sits vividly in the mind (everyone remembers the blue tiles), best seen from outside where it is cleverly articulated.
Scottish Poetry Library: image © Adrian Welch
Scottish Poetry Library Awards:
RIBA Award 2000
Civic Trust Award 2000
Highly Commended, Regeneration of Scotland Award 2000
Building Design 4 Jun 1999: supplement available in Library.
Scottish Poetry Library: image © Adrian Welch
The Library was shortlisted for Channel 4's Building of the Year 2000.
Scottish Poetry Library:image © Adrian Welch
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Comments / photos for the Scottish Poetry Library Architecture pages welcome:
info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk
Scottish Poetry Library - Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
Website: www.spl.org.uk