Guide to Edinburgh Buildings / Architects
Scottish Architecture

Edinburgh is of course 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 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.

Enjoy your visit!


Edinburgh Castle © adrian welch

All Edinburgh buildings are listed using a standard format:

- Title in English
- Key date of building completion; key dates of subsequent work
- Architect or Architects
- A short description of the architecture & personal evaluation


Ten Key Edinburgh buildings (chronological):

1. Edinburgh Castle
various dates
various architects / masons

2. St Giles Cathedral
various dates
various architects / masons

3. Calton Hill - various buildings
various dates
various architects, principally William Playfair

4. National Gallery of Scotland
1845-58
William Playfair, Architect
5. Old College - Edinburgh University
various dates
various architects - Robert Adam; William Playfair; Rowand Anderson

6. Palace of Holyroodhouse
various dates
various architects / masons

7. Museum of Scotland - Extension
1999
Benson + Forsyth, Architects

8. Dance Base
1999-2001
Malcolm Fraser Architects

9. Earthworks - Ueda at the SNGMA
2001-02
Charles Jencks with Terry Farrell

10. Scottish Parliament
1999-2004
EMBT RMJM - Enric Miralles


Scottish Parliament © keith hunter photographer

Edinburgh Architecture


Edinburgh Tours - Walking Tours of the city

Scottish Architecture




Key Edinburgh buildings (chronological):

1. Edinburgh Castle
Old Town, central Edinburgh
various dates
various architects / masons
Edinburgh Castle

2. St Giles Cathedral
Royal Mile / High St, Old Town, central Edinburgh
various dates
various architects / masons
St Giles Cathedral (High Kirk) around the centre point of the world-famous Royal Mile

3. Calton Hill - various buildings
New Town, central Edinburgh
various dates
various architects, principally William Playfair
Calton Hill - key buildings, mostly Greek Revival:
National Monument (to the Napoleonic Dead), -1829, Cockerell, exec. Playfair;
designed as a folly, based on Acropolis.
Nelson's Monument, 1807; 1814-16, Burn
Duguld Stewart Monument, 1831, Playfair
Royal High School, 1829, Thomas Hamilton

4. National Gallery of Scotland
The Mound, central Edinburgh
1845-58
William Playfair, Architect
National Gallery of Scotland by William Playfair

5. Old College of Edinburgh University
Old Town, central Edinburgh
various dates
various architects
Court, 1789-, Robert Adam and later William Playfair; Dome, 1879, Rowand Anderson

6. Palace of Holyroodhouse
Canongate / Old Town, central Edinburgh
various dates
various architects / masons
Palace of Holyroodhouse is still used by HM The Queen when on certain Edinburgh / Scottish engagements

7. Museum of Scotland - Extension
Chambers St, Old Town, central Edinburgh
1999
Benson + Forsyth, Architects
The New Museum of Scotland building is credited with reviving contemporary architecture in Scotland. Next door is the original Royal Museum of Scotland - 1861, by Captain Francis Fowke, restored by Law & Dunbar-Nasmith [LDN Architects] and being redeveloped in 2006 by Gareth Hoskins Architects of Glasgow + Ralph Appelbaum Associates of New York

8. Dance Base
Grassmarket, Old Town, central Edinburgh
1999-2001
Malcolm Fraser Architects
Dance Base: National Dance Centre - Stirling Prize nominee 2002.
Malcolm Fraser buildings.

9. Earthworks - Ueda at the SNGMA
Belford Road, northwest Edinburgh
2001-02
Charles Jencks with Terry Farrell

Edinburgh Landform Photo © adrian welch
Spiral mounds using earth and water by architecture theorist Charles Jencks with architect Terry Farrell

10. Scottish Parliament
Holyrood Road, Canongate / Old Town, central Edinburgh
1999-2004
EMBT RMJM - Enric Miralles

Scottish Parliament building © adrian welch
Scottish Parliament is probably the most exciting building in Edinburgh, certainly the most talked about in decades: designed by Enric Miralles - Stirling Prize winner 2005


Scottish Parliament image from RIAS

Key Public Spaces in the city - Edinburgh Squares & Parks:

Royal Mile (see link further up page)
Holyrood Park - Arthur's Seat
Calton Hill (see link further up page)
Princes Street
Charlotte Square


The highest profile Edinburgh building - Scottish Parliament:


Scottish Parliament photos © adrian welch


Key Edinburgh Buildings (alphabetical order):

Balmoral Hotel
Commonwealth Pool
Dean Gallery
Dynamic Earth
Festival Theatre
Harvey Nichols
Jenners
National Portrait Gallery
New Street Edinburgh
Royal Bank of Scotland World HQ
Royal High School
Scott Monument
Scottish Poetry Library
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Scottish Widows
St James Centre


Key Edinburgh Projects:

Edinburgh Park - masterplan by Richard Meier
Forthside - masterplan by Robert Adam Architects

Key Buildings near to Edinburgh:

Rosslyn Chapel - filmed for Da Vinci Code
James Stirling building at St Andrews


World Architecture - City Guides:
Barcelona Architecture
Cambridge Architecture
Copenhagen Architecture
Glasgow Architecture
Hong Kong Architecture
New York Architecture
Paris Architecture


Comments or building suggestions / photos for the Edinburgh Architecture page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk

Architecture Books
Architecture Competition
Contemporary Architects
Iconic Architecture
Modern Houses




World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Edinburgh Building Photos © adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
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Edinburgh Architecture