New Kiosk

The Pavilion was designed by Gillespies (Landscape Architectural Company, based in Glasgow) as part of the redevelopment of the Square.


photos © lee boyd may 2008

The tenancy of the pavilion was an open competition to coffee retailers and Edinburgh registered company, Coffee Republic, won with a design concept by lee boyd.


'String of Pearls' project - View:

It's easy to criticise such projects as the opening up of this formerly private square, but this initiative is both bold and well executed. Opening on 5th of April the stone landscaping was already being used for seating, with the cafe pavilion providing a focus and gentle bustle. The paths follow natural desire lines and the design is neat and unpretentious.

Many tours we've shown round the New Town over the years have been amazed that St Andrew Square, Charlotte Square, Queen Street Gardens, Moray Place, etc. are all reserved for lucky locals. This is not how a city should work. St Andrew Square now represents a bold and successful attempt to repopulate Scotland's capital city, allow permeability and reconnect the people with what should have always been public space.


photos © adrian welch feb 2008 with lumix camera

The next space to be given back to pedestrians is the Grassmarket, another positive initiative. Thereafter the logical next step is to demand Charlotte Square is given back to the city. In the meantime the Council should remove the locked gates at the bridge behind the Ross Bandstand: this daft situation destroys permeability right in the heart of the city - you have to go to either end of the Gardens just to go from Old to New Town or vice versa.


Bakckground to St Andrew Square Revitalisation:
Underway in St Andrew Square since Jul 2007: opening up the square to the public & connecting burgeoning St James / Multrees Walk areas with city centre: clearing of foliage, new paths and some micro architecture. String of Pearls Edinburgh Development Framework by City of Edinburgh Council + Broadway Malyan

42 St Andrew Square former RBS HQ prior to completion of Gogarburn

photo © adrian welch Feb 2008
Due to be developed, possibly as a hotel

Caledonian Insurance Company building

building: photo © adrian welch sep 2006

St Andrew Square - Scottish Provident building

building: photo © adrian welch sep 2006
St Andrew Square buildings : gareth hoskins architects + CDA

St Andrew Square - Melville Monument

statue / column photo © Adrian Welch Sep 2006

St Andrew Square Department Store - Harvey Nichols


St Andrew Square offices

Standard Life building

35 St Andrew Square

photo © adrian welch 230207
One of the oldest buildings in the New Town, being refurbished in 2006

RBS St Andrew Square
Dundas Mansion, western focus to Edinburgh New Town's long axis

St Andrew Square Retail / Commercial property - Basil Spence, architect

building: photo © adrian welch sep 2006

St Andrew Square bank : Bank of Scotland HQ, east side of St Andrew's Square

building: photo © adrian welch 2005

Multrees Walk off St Andrew Square to east adj. Harvey Nichols

Aerial view:


Central to St Andrew Square is the Melville Monument atop which is the stone statue of Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville

Prudential Assurance building - 14 South st Andrew St, by Alfred Waterhouse 1895

photo © adrian welch 230207

Looking east down George Street to St Andrew Square:

building: photo © adrian welch 2006

St Andrew Square context - Scottish Portrait Gallery

building: photo © adrian welch sep 2006

Edinburgh Walking Tours



St Andrew Square - office building photographed from north (rear) side:

building: photo © adrian welch 2006

Former Scottish Equitable offices, St Andrew Square:

photograph © adrian welch nov2007

The Dome, George Street





Edinburgh Building Photos

Edinburgh New Town

St Andrew Square Department Store - Jenners

Edinburgh : back to index

Buildings / photos for the St Andrew Square Architecture page welcome:
info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

St Andrew Square buildings - page: adrian welch / isabelle lomholt