Construction begins on Edinburgh’s £150m New Waverley
November 6 2014
To mark the start graffiti artists have been commissioned to create a half kilometre long collage spanning the perimeter hoardings of the seven acre site, notably a row of exposed arches along East Market Street.
Designed by Alan Murray Architects the master plan will ultimately play host to 16,500sq/m of office space, 28 shops, a community centre and 185 flats – all arranged around a central public square.
Lukas Nakos, managing director of developer Artisan Real Estate Investors, said: “We are now starting to create, in the very heart of Edinburgh, an exciting and vibrant mixed-use community which will set an international benchmark for sensitive and innovative development.
“We have seen commitment from three major hotel brands, bringing in more than 400 rooms for central Edinburgh. And we are also receiving significant interest from the food, beverage and restaurant sectors - particularly around existing areas of the development such as The Arches - ahead of the office launch in the New Year.”
A 146 room Adagio Aparthotel is currently out to tender and will move on site before the year is out.
257 hotel rooms are now on site at the development
The C-listed Caningate Venture building will be retained
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7 Comments
#1 Posted by ella h on 6 Nov 2014 at 13:31 PM
Edinburgh needs to stop acting like such a museum and actually allow some interesting modern architecture. There is a market here - people will spend money, but all that gets delivered is inoffensive bland and boring buildings. A tall building would be amazing in the city.
#2 Posted by Stevie Steve on 6 Nov 2014 at 13:42 PM
So... is this what happened to coltongate?
#3 Posted by Big Chantelle on 6 Nov 2014 at 15:03 PM
@ ella h
So 1 random tall building standing amongst a sea of traditional/classical buildings would amaze? Erm, how?
I don't think the Caltongate proposal on this page can be defended along the lines of Edinburgh maintaining its museum-esque image On the contrary. There's many -- including heritage bodies -- who feel it's actually too out of keep with the surrounding world heritage site architecture and therefore inappropriate.
So 1 random tall building standing amongst a sea of traditional/classical buildings would amaze? Erm, how?
I don't think the Caltongate proposal on this page can be defended along the lines of Edinburgh maintaining its museum-esque image On the contrary. There's many -- including heritage bodies -- who feel it's actually too out of keep with the surrounding world heritage site architecture and therefore inappropriate.
#4 Posted by Partick Bateman on 6 Nov 2014 at 15:30 PM
There's many -- including heritage bodies -- who feel it's actually too out of keep with the surrounding world heritage site architecture and therefore inappropriate.
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I'm sure they (if they had been around at the time) would've moaned about the New Town as well.
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I'm sure they (if they had been around at the time) would've moaned about the New Town as well.
#5 Posted by Big Chantelle on 6 Nov 2014 at 16:49 PM
@patrick bateman
I'm afraid that's speculation on your part.
But regardless, we have to deal in facts. Edinburgh exists and has a particular architecture and built environment which, in certain areas is of world renowned importance. That has to be respected. Plonking a skyscraper into it just so we can amaze some people with a tall building is a bit absurd. Build a skyscraper in Granton or along the coast where it is appropriate.
I'm afraid that's speculation on your part.
But regardless, we have to deal in facts. Edinburgh exists and has a particular architecture and built environment which, in certain areas is of world renowned importance. That has to be respected. Plonking a skyscraper into it just so we can amaze some people with a tall building is a bit absurd. Build a skyscraper in Granton or along the coast where it is appropriate.
#6 Posted by Anon on 6 Nov 2014 at 23:25 PM
Any piece of work conceived in the near present is contemporary. I despise the use of this as a stylistic description of architecture. Almost as much as I despise pastiche. Good design is good design. It responds to a brief and a context and I believe it should have some sort of altruistic agenda even if it has to be against the will of the kind of clients that would commission such a project, because Architects have a duty to society as well. Or so I thought.
This project, however conceived, is a complete shambles. It's beige in ever sense of the word. And where is the will to create something of worth beyond monetary return?
Bateman, I agree. It's about time we unshackled ourselves from our slip on loafers and chinos and try something, oh, I don't know, contemporary perhaps.
This project, however conceived, is a complete shambles. It's beige in ever sense of the word. And where is the will to create something of worth beyond monetary return?
Bateman, I agree. It's about time we unshackled ourselves from our slip on loafers and chinos and try something, oh, I don't know, contemporary perhaps.
#7 Posted by dalrylama on 10 Nov 2014 at 12:30 PM
I would have liked to see these archways offered up to single plot self-build style developers. It could have led to a tremendous variety of unique and attractive work/live units or more of the bespoke retail units that people seem to like so much....
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