Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh – Infirmary Street

Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street Building Photos, Architect News, Project

Dovecot Studios Edinburgh Architecture

Redevelopment of Edinburgh Baths design by Malcolm Fraser Architects

Location: Infirmary Street, Old Town

Date built: 2008

Malcolm Fraser Architects

Dovecot Studios hall Dovecot Studios Dovecot Studios space
photos by Malcolm Fraser Architects

Dovecot Studios

Edinburgh is fortunate to have a wonderful new tapestry studio and two large exhibition areas in the heart of the city’s Old Town, a World Heritage Site, in close proximity to the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival Theatre and Edinburgh College of Art. Dovecot, Britain’s leading tapestry company, re-inhabits the first public swimming baths opened in 1885 in Infirmary Street– saving a derelict building that was on the Buildings at Risk Register.

Dovecot Studios Edinburgh Dovecot Studios interior
photos by Malcolm Fraser Architects

The main workshop re-uses the main swimming pool space and the public viewing gallery retains the integrity of the original space, and this has become a new display area for the work of the studios. Dovecot’s design rooms, offices and supplementary accommodation have been located beneath the gallery space and a yarn library forms a vibrant and colourful visual backdrop to the working studio.

Infirmary Street Baths Dovecot Studios
entry facade photos © Adrian Welch

The once subdivided entrance foyer (separate for men and women) has been made into a single welcoming space, and provides direct access to several gallery and exhibition spaces located within the former pools, while two floors of office accommodation are located within and above the ladies pool. The former laundry and boiler house have been altered to form five residential apartments accessed independently from the rest of the building.

Externally the existing stone walls of the original swimming pool are maintained and consolidated to form a robust base course, while new volumes are conceived as simple zinc clad boxes with large glazed elements maximising the qualities of light, space and city views.

Dovecot Studios Edinburgh building – images / information from Malcolm Fraser Architects 290109

Infirmary Street Building : Background

Infirmary St Baths Infirmary St Edinburgh

Dovecot Studios Architect : Malcolm Fraser

Other Edinburgh buildings by MFA:

Dance Base
Dance Base
image : Steffen Schefer

Princess Gate

HBoS

Infirmary Street Baths Context : Cowgate, Edinburgh Old Town

Infirmary Street Baths
Date built: 1885
Architect: Robert Morham

Jenners

Scottish Parliament

Malcolm Fraser Architects

Infirmary Street Baths interior space : new offices

Edinburgh Tours

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