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11 ‘vertical’ apartments earmarked for historic Edinburgh square

August 4 2017

11 ‘vertical’ apartments earmarked for historic Edinburgh square
Edinburgh’s Gayfield Square could be bulked up with the submission of plans for 11 flats by LBA, blending a contemporary design of natural stone within the New Town conservation area.

The ‘ordered vertical design’ will replace a row of unremarkable workshops which housed a car mechanics prior to conversion to an art gallery in 2000.

Expounding their design principles LBA stated: “The overall form of the building has been informed by the surrounding built environment and site context. In relation to its mass the building proposed is of a domestic scale building akin to surrounding developments. The form of the building has been arranged to minimise overshadowing impact to neighbouring buildings. In comparison to the frontage of the existing building, the existing pavement will be widened by setting the elevation line of the new building back.

“The new pavement will be re-surfaced and the drop kerbs will be removed to create a more accessible pavement arrangement. The new ground floor flats will be fronted by factor maintained gardens providing a buffer between the street edge and the proposed building but also improving the outlook of neighbouring buildings.”

The current proposal marks a revision to a previously approved project.
A north west view from Gayfield Square
A north west view from Gayfield Square

14 Comments

TepidMouse
#1 Posted by TepidMouse on 4 Aug 2017 at 12:35 PM
Completely out of character for an "historic" square. And white render will look absolutely beautiful in the dank Edinburgh climate. More dross!
Rupert
#2 Posted by Rupert on 4 Aug 2017 at 13:29 PM
White render? What Design and Statement did you read?
Graeme McCormick
#3 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 4 Aug 2017 at 14:23 PM
the St James Centre lives!!!
basho
#4 Posted by basho on 4 Aug 2017 at 14:44 PM
Disappointing for such a good location. There are some well designed flats in Edinburgh that are a modern twist on the tenement style. Unfortunately this isn't one of them.
Carrick Knower
#5 Posted by Carrick Knower on 4 Aug 2017 at 14:55 PM
A very "cala-esque" modern tenement proposal. Quite dull and inoffensive but it's Edinburgh and the planners dictate such mediocrity is the way forward in the ultra-conservative vision for our city.

ps. Love the St James Centre lives chat!
Sven
#6 Posted by Sven on 4 Aug 2017 at 20:43 PM
Such banality and non-architecture: really not worthy of a regional city never mind the New Town of our capital.

Nearby Hopetoun Crescent is a successful updating of a Georgian crescent which both looks modern but firmly shows its Georgian roots and classical details.

There is nothing wrong with ashlar chaps and people like traditional as well as modern.
Islands of sanity
#7 Posted by Islands of sanity on 5 Aug 2017 at 10:48 AM
Their design statement is more fatuous words. " Informed by context!" This about ego as opposed to respecting and developing a truly contextual approach including colour balance.
Gringo
#8 Posted by Gringo on 7 Aug 2017 at 08:42 AM
I think the design is fine, if a bit unimaginative. Quite a vanilla proposal, particularly in the language used to describe it- super-banal-rent-a-quote stuff really.
StyleCouncil
#9 Posted by StyleCouncil on 7 Aug 2017 at 12:26 PM
As far as I am aware this site is not in Gayfield Square no?
The scheme will active what is a dead brownfield site behind Gayfield Sq. and does appear to respond to the context in terms of scale and proportion.
Usual hysterical New Town reaction...I am sure LBa are prepared for this. The design appears to be a notch above the CALA/ ISA effort...albeit still fairly formulaic.
Sven
#10 Posted by Sven on 7 Aug 2017 at 19:21 PM
This is Gayfield Square (address wise) but not actually on the square itself. It is planned on the old Gayfield Creative Arts place directly behind it, literally, which does look like an old garage, I guess it was an old mews at some point in the past for the Square.

"Usual hysterical New Town reaction" - people caring about their environment, neighbourhood and history - this should be an architects dream and we need more of this in Scotland and not less.

It would look better using the same sandstone as all its neighbours and a slate roof to blend it and look like the architect actually visited the site or at least used google maps to see its urban realm.
StyleCouncil
#11 Posted by StyleCouncil on 8 Aug 2017 at 13:47 PM
#10 the final paragraph says it all...sandstone/ slateroof/ blend in-aka hide. Why on earth would you do this in 2017!?
Actually the scheme would still work with sandstone.... but looks better in brick, which is also an appropriate and honest reference to its garage/ brownfield history, and hierarchical position behind Gayfield Square.
Good luck LBA.....!
Boaby
#12 Posted by Boaby on 8 Aug 2017 at 15:11 PM
Agree 100% with StyleCouncil, the pastiche brigade out in force again. And for the record, Hopetoun Crescent is an absolute shagger of a scheme!
Walt Disney
#13 Posted by Walt Disney on 10 Aug 2017 at 13:58 PM
I really like it There was a previous scheme by Olly Chapman, which wasnt really buildable and I think this looks much better and it is probably more profitable.

Looks like the green tights brigade is out to slag it off....only to be expected. Well done Stone Acre!
Sven
#14 Posted by Sven on 10 Aug 2017 at 17:24 PM
"Why on earth would you do this in 2017!?"

What has the date got to do with anything? You simply fail to understand the need for buildings to blend in. Spain does it by forcing buildings to use the vernacular colours and tiles in conservation areas, and guess what it works. Why plonk a very dull and anywhere-ville building in an area which has established character? Build such buildings in Gogarburn or the Gyle, but use local styles in the old and new town.
I appreciate your ego will not stand for this but you know deep down I am correct morally and in totality.

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