Outlook Tower, Camera Obscura Edinburgh

Outlook Tower Edinburgh photos, Castlehill tourist attraction images, Old Town building renewal architect, Address, Date

Outlook Tower : Camera Obscura Edinburgh

Camera Obscura in the Old Town Edinburgh renewal design by Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects, Scotland

post updated 30 October 2023

Location: 543-49 Castlehill, Old Town

Camera Obscura Outlook Tower Outlook Tower Edinburgh Camera Obscura Edinburgh
building photos from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects

Outlook Tower Edinburgh

14 Sep 2010

Camera Obscura – Edinburgh

Design: Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects

Outlook Tower, located at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, is the capital’s oldest tourist attraction.

Camera Obscura Outlook Tower Outlook Tower Edinburgh Camera Obscura Edinburgh
photos from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects

Involvement with the project dates back over 20 years, with earlier work dedicated to the restoration and repair to the existing buildings, and the internal development of the Tower.

Outlook Tower Edinburgh Camera Obscura Edinburgh
photos from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects

The current and final phase of the project involves the development of the adjoining Ramsay Lane building. The introduction of external link spaces and reconfigured internal circulation spaces will enable the two buildings to operate as a single exhibition space, whilst remaining sympathetic to the history of the Castlehill site.

Camera Obscura images / information from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects

Images from previously:
Edinburgh Outlook Tower Outlook Tower Edinburgh Camera Obscura
photo © Adrian Welch

Outlook Tower History

17th & mid-19th Century elements transformed by Patrick Geddes into the Outlook Tower in 1896. Contains a Camera Obscura dating from 1853 when the upper storeys were added probably by David Rhind

View looking east towards the building (left) from the Caste Esplanade:

Edinburgh Old Town Outlook Tower
Ramsey Gardens south facade, photo © Adrian Welch

Camera Obscura context : Scotch Whisky Experience

Edinburgh Walking Tours : Architecture Walking Tours

Outlook Tower Building

In 1892, Patrick Geddes, a pioneering Scottish urban planner, sociologist, and ecologist, assumed management of the site, renamed it the “Outlook Tower,” and organized it as a museum and urban study centre demonstrating his philosophy of planning, which was based on comprehensive surveys of the site, city, and region.

He installed a series of exhibits on progressively broader geographic themes as one ascended the tower — first the world on the ground floor, then Europe, the English-speaking countries, Scotland, and Edinburgh — with the camera obscura itself continuing to project a real-time image of the city at the very top. People from all walks of life were invited to come to the tower to study and learn about their city.

Earl Haig
photo © Adrian Welch

Edinburgh Building Designs

Contemporary Edinburgh Architectural Designs – recent selection from this website:

Image above showing Earl Haig with, beyond, Ramsay Gardens on left, Outlook Tower and the Hub on the right

Adjacent to Edinburgh Outlook Tower is Edinburgh Castle to the west, and Ramsay Gardens

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Robert Adam

Comments / photos for the Outlook Tower – Camera Obscura Edinburgh Building renewal design by Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects, UK, at 543-49 Castlehill, page welcome