Edinburgh architecture design, Scotland architectural photos, Scottish architects news, Lothian building designs images, Properties
Edinburgh Architecture
Architecture in the Scottish Capital, UK Built Environment
Post updated 28 July 2024
Edinburgh Architecture Designs – chronological list
Edinburgh Architecture Designs
Edinburgh the capital of Scotland and a renowned city for architecture. Famous architects that have completed buildings here include Robert Adam, Norman Foster and Enric Miralles.
The Scottish Capital city has two main parts: the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town. The latter reputedly forms the largest neoclassical grouping in the World whilst the former contains the famous Royal Mile with Edinburgh Castle at its top, St Giles Cathedral in the middle and the Royal Palace at its base.
New Scottish Capital Buildings
Contemporary Scottish Capital Property Designs – recent architectural selection below:
25 November 2023
Polwarth Terrace House, Merchiston & Greenhill conservation area, Eastfield, west Edinburgh
Design: DS Architecture
photo : Ross Campbell
Polwarth Terrace House, Edinburgh
Located at the heart of the Merchiston & Greenhill conservation area in Edinburgh’s west end, Polwarth Terrace sits parallel to the Union Canal with each property facing the street and sitting across the natural slope that leads down towards the water.
21 October 2023
Trinity Academy refurbishment and Passivhaus extension
Design: Holmes Miller
image : Holmes Miller
Development of Edinburgh’s Trinity Academy
A planning application has been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council for the second phase of development at Trinity Academy, a secondary school set within the Victoria Park conservation area in the north of the city.
4 October 2023
Sea View Garden Room, Eastfield
Design: AGORA architecture + design
photo : Alix Mcintosh
Sea View Garden Room
This project originated from the client’s need for extra space to relax and also work from home. This terraced house enjoys a breath-taking location, overlooking the rough Scottish sea in Edinburgh. However, the previous layout did not take full advantage of the sea view.
29 September 2023
New Scottish Galleries At The National
Design: Hoskins Architects
photo : Gillian Hayes of dapple photography
New Scottish galleries at the National
A free experience for everyone to enjoy, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, the new Scottish galleries at the National showcase the very best historic Scottish art. With 150 years of Scotland’s art to discover in the contemporary and fresh new spaces, visitors are sure to recognise some much-loved favourites as they travel through the galleries.
4 September 2023
Circus Lane House Extension
Design: DS Architecture
photo : Will Scott Photography
Circus Lane House Extension
Taking a walk around the gentle curve of Edinburgh’s famously picturesque Circus Lane, the clocktower of St Stephen’s Church looms overhead and draws you towards the western end of the Lane, as one of the New Town’s latest additions comes into view.
25 June 2023
Dublin Street Lane South Mews Houses
Design: DS Architecture
photo : Ross Campbell
Dublin Street Lane South Mews Houses
2 new mews style dwellings built over 3 storeys on a very tight and technically demanding New Town site within the UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Presenting 2 storeys to the lane, each house provides 3 bedrooms with living space elevated on the uppermost level, optimising aspect to the south through large glazed openings while maintaining privacy from street level.
19 May 2022
Health and Wellbeing Centre, 7 Bristo Square
Design: Page\Park Architects
photo : Keith Hunter
University of Edinburgh Health and Wellbeing Centre
For the first time, the University of Edinburgh’s new Health and Wellbeing Centre brings together the institution’s previously disconnected Counselling and Disability services, Pharmacy and Health Centre, in a now fully accessible facility. Dedicated to the prevention and treatment of mental and physical health issues, both clinically and holistically, the Centre has become a beacon for the promotion student and staff well-being.
New National Centre For Music
image courtesy of architects practice
New National Centre For Music Edinburgh
St James Quarter , central Edinburgh
Architects: BDP Glasgow studio + Allan Murray Architects
St James Quarter Edinburgh
BDP has helped complete the delivery of phase one of the new St James Quarter, Edinburgh, working with client Nuveen Real Estate to create a new destination in the heart of the capital. A new and modern 1.7 million sq ft masterplan in urban placemaking, it is one of the UK’s largest inner-city regeneration projects.
Literature House for Scotland, John Knox House, Edinburgh
Winning Architects: Witherford Watson Mann ; Groves-Raines Architects Studios ; Studio MB
photograph © Daniel Lomholt-Welch
Literature House for Scotland
Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust has selected Stirling Prize winning architectural firm Witherford Watson Mann to lead the next phase of development at the Literature House in Edinburgh. They will be working in partnership with Groves-Raines Architects Studios and Edinburgh-based Studio MB.
Langside Halls Proposals, Glasgow, Strathclyde
photo courtesy of Hoskins Architects
Langside Halls Queen’s Park, Glasgow
In October 2020 Langside Halls Trust, with funding from Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Heritage Trust and the Architectural Heritage Fund Scotland, appointed Glasgow-based Hoskins Architects to lead a team of consultants including culture & heritage consultants, Jura Consultants to undertake a 20 week feasibility study of Glasgow’s Langside Halls.
Ten Key Edinburgh Buildings
Edinburgh Buildings, chronological:
1. Edinburgh Castle, Old Town
Date built: various dates
Design: various architects / masons
photo © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh Castle
2. St Giles Kirk, Old Town
various dates
Design: various architects / masons
St Giles Cathedral (High Kirk) on the world-famous Royal Mile
3. Calton Hill – various buildings, New Town
various dates
Design: various architects : Playfair ; Cockerell ; Burn ; Hamilton
picture © Isabelle Lomholt
Calton Hill – mostly Greek Revival buildings
4. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound
Date built: 1858
Design: William Playfair Architect
image © Adrian Welch
National Gallery of Scotland by William Playfair
5. Old College of Edinburgh University, Old Town
various dates
Design: various architects – Robert Adam ; William Playfair ; Rowand Anderson
Old College
6. Palace of Holyroodhouse, Old Town
various dates
Design: various architects / masons
Palace of Holyroodhouse : still used by HM The Queen for Scottish engagements
7. Museum of Scotland – Extension, Old Town
Date built: 1999
Design: Benson + Forsyth Architects
photo © Adrian Welch
Museum of Scotland
8. Dance Base, Grassmarket, Old Town
Date built: 2001
Design: Malcolm Fraser Architects
image © Isabelle Lomholt
Dance Base : National Dance Centre – Stirling Prize nominee 2002
Malcolm Fraser buildings
9. Earthworks – Ueda at the SNGMA
Date built: 2002
Design: Charles Jencks with Sir Terry Farrell
picture © Adrian Welch
Landform by Charles Jencks : spiral mounds using earth and water by architecture theorist Charles Jencks with architect Terry Farrell
10. Scottish Parliament, Old Town
Date built: 2004
Design: EMBT/RMJM
picture © Adrian Welch
The Scottish Parliament Building is the most talked about Scottish architecture in decades : building designed by Enric Miralles – Stirling Prize winner 2005. If there is one building you shouldn’t miss on your visit to the Scottish capital this is it!
photograph © Keith Hunter
We do architecture tours in Edinburgh and Glasgow – please contact isabelle(at)e-architect.com
Recent Edinburgh Building News
Edinburgh BioQuarter Development
Three new life sciences companies have moved into this research centre building by Michael Laird Architects. Nine at the BioQuarter is a flagship multi-occupancy building for early stage and established life sciences companies. The styling of the architecture is clean and bold.
National Portrait Gallery Edinburgh
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery reopened in 2011, following a £18m restoration. This 19th century building by Robert Rowand Anderson was redeveloped by Glasgow architects Page Park. It is a well-loved building with a memorable old red sandstone facade. Internally the focus is on the foyer (pictured) which is a deligthful space with a wonderful ‘mural’ telling the story of Scotland.
Caltongate Development
Caltongate – Edinburgh City Council reaches compromise agreement with the new developer Artisan who will make £6.5m worth of improvements to the area around the site, but just a £50,000 contribution to the city’s tram project. Work is set to get underway within months at Caltongate – one of Edinburgh’s most notorious gap sites after developers said they would retain almost half of a £300m scheme.
Edinburgh Tours – Architecture Walking Tours of the city
Key Public Spaces in the city – Edinburgh Squares & Parks
Holyrood Park – Arthur’s Seat
Princes Street
Charlotte Square
Royal Mile & Calton Hill : see building links further up page
EICC Building
photograph © AW
The highest profile Edinburgh building – Scottish Parliament photographs:
thumbnail photo © Adrian Welch
Key Edinburgh Buildings
Building, alphabetical:
Balmoral Hotel
Commonwealth Pool
Dynamic Earth
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Festival Theatre
Harvey Nichols Edinburgh
Jenners
Royal Bank of Scotland HQ
Royal High School
St James Centre
Scott Monument
Scottish Poetry Library
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Scottish Widows
Key Edinburgh Projects
Edinburgh Park – masterplan by world-famous American architect Richard Meier
Caltongate
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Key Buildings near to Edinburgh
Rosslyn Chapel – filmed for Da Vinci Code
James Stirling building at St Andrews
Scottish Architecture Design
Best Building in Scotland Award
Comments / photos for the Edinburgh Architecture design news page welcome.