St James Centre Redevelopment
Henderson Global Investors unveil Allan Murray Architects’ £850m proposals for the St James Centre: a new city quarter including a three-storey galleria influenced by Milan’s famous Galleria.
Retail space in the centre would triple in size. Hotels, apartments and offices would be included. Public squares and rooftop gardens. An exhibition at the St James Centre will last for 8 weeks. If approved demolition could begin in 2010, and complete in 2015. The John Lewis store would be retained.
Latest proposals incl. clean start with demolition of both St James Centre and the Thistle Hotel: wonderful
photo © Adrian Welch 270907
Images on the planning portal posit alternative dome sizes and configurations - broadly in line with the concept of enhancement expounded in the Skyline Exhibition, understood to be favoured by Sir Terry Farrell and Trevor Davies: ie not just replacing the unsightly bulk of the St James buildings with permeable development but adding to the skyline with careful consideration of key views - the Bridges, Leith Walk, George Street and the view from Inverleith [Adrian Welch]. 230207
photo © Adrian Welch 270907
St James Centre Architects
BDP + Allan Murray Architects named as designers for St James Centre expansion masterplan, to complete 2007
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Owner of Edinburgh's St James Shopping Centre :
Henderson Global Investors (asset managers)
Architects for redevelopment of St James Shopping Centre & St James House:
Building Design Partnership + Allan Murray Architects
Appointed Sep 2006 following competitive selection process - shortlist of six
St James Centre - model photo by Adrian Welch
Areas:
St James Shopping Centre area: 450,000 sq ft
St James House area : 240,000 sq ft
Ownership:
Henderson UK Shopping Centre Fund purchased St James Shopping Centre from Irish investor Donegal Place Investments for £184m in 2006.
Henderson UK Shopping Centre Fund purchased St James House from Omega Land Limited in 2006
St James Centre photo by Adrian Welch
St James Centre - Redevelopment News
St James Centre £200m proposals unveiled - doubling in size, incl. demolition of St James House, plus new Department Store. Proposals by Henderson Global Investors (HGI), the developers who bought the buildings earlier in 2006 for a reported £184m. No architects for the redevelopment announced as yet. Due to go ahead from 2007-08
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photo © Adrian Welch 270907
View
This is of course a golden opportunity to salvage the damaged end of Edinburgh's world-famous New Town. The St James Centre and St James House tower above is not only an eyesore - especially from the north where its massive bulk is a dull thud compared to the eloquent spires and towers of the past - but completely fails in its role as focus to the important Leith Walk vista. This main entry to the city from the East needs a dynamic new building that can satisfy the developers need for return but also close of this key view, especially from the top of London Road. The 'City Fathers' will have to watch this one carefully but the news is positive. We wish HGI all the best in steering such a massive proposal to completion.
[Adrian Welch - 050706]
John Lewis: photo by Adrian Welch
St James Centre - Background on the buildings
The St James Centre in Edinburgh is located at the east end of the New Town Phase One. It is often voted the most disliked building in Scotland but is still a popular Edinburgh Shopping Centre.
0131 557 0050
photo by Adrian Welch
Architecture
The shopping centre was designed by Ian Burke & Martin in 1964, elements completed by Hugh Martin & Partners in 1970, in full by 1973.
photo from Michael Laird Architects
The centre is highly visible coming up Leith Walk, from Calton Hill and from much of the city: its dark brooding form is unloved by most of Edinburgh's citizens. The facades suffer from a lack of articulation and the ugly canopy to the south is ungainly with its huge steel members.
image from Michael Laird Architects
Possible Redevelopment
Michael Laird Architects scheme for the total redevelopment of the St James Centre site including New St Andrew's House failed to go ahead due to the developer's direction.
image from Michael Laird Architects
In 2003 Malcolm Fraser Architects and the Cockburn Association plans for Princes Street included the St James Centre site and in late 2004 Broadway Malyan architects - who designed the Leith Street Bridge which accesses the St James Centre - were reported to be drawing up plans for New Town Shopping along the lines of the Malcolm Fraser proposals.
Food on 1 at The St James Centre, Edinburgh
image supplied by CDA Architects
Food Court Refurbishment - St James Centre
John Lewis
John Lewis: photo by Adrian Welch
John Lewis Edinburgh underwent a £25m redesign in 2003-04, expanding its area at the St James Centre by a fifth.
Opposite the St James Centre is Calton Square and omniedinburgh
Edinburgh Shopping Malls, Retail Parks:-
Fort Kinnaird Shopping Park, southeast Edinburgh
Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, south Edinburgh
Ocean Terminal, Leith
ASDA Edinburgh Shopping Centre, The Jewel, southeast Edinburgh
IKEA Edinburgh, south Edinburgh
John Lewis Edinburgh, central Edinburgh
Meadowbank Shopping Park, east Edinburgh
St James Centre, central Edinburgh
Gyle Shopping Centre, west Edinburgh
St James Centre : Background on the area
John Lewis Edinburgh store architects : Sir Basil Spence Glover & Ferguson
Edinburgh : back to index
St James Centre context : Leith Street Bridge
St James Centre - Website: www.thestjames.co.uk