June 26 2023

The City of Edinburgh Council has awarded planning consent for a new visitor hub at Jupiter Artland to improve outreach and accessibility at the 100-acre sculpture park.

Standing as a new entrance to the West Edinburgh outdoor gallery the Organic Architects designed hub will cater for students and visitors with a gallery, integrated craft distillery and restaurant all in one agricultural-style building.

Gareth Roberts, founder and director at Organic Architects, said: "The new gallery will provide a haven for hosting world-class art and artists, with the buildings’ exteriors harmoniously echoing the park’s green surroundings. Its interior spaces will provide more room for captivating art, with new pieces from world-famous artists, designed for areas within the building from early in the process."

Recommending approval the chief planning officer wrote: "The proposal introduces a new use that does not directly relate to the principle use of the wider site as a sculpture park and art gallery. However, this new use forms part of an extension to an established, tourist facility to replace and enhance its existing facilities. It forms part of an overall high-quality, integrated design concept, which is of scale and position that will not detract from the rural character or landscape quality of the countryside. An infringement of countryside policy criteria in policy Env 10 is considered appropriate in these specific circumstances."

The decision clears the way for construction to begin later this year, with completion expected in 2025.

Post your comments