January 11 2021

Wilson + Gunn Architects and Iglu Studio have paved the way for the next phase of Edinburgh Marina with a planning submission outlining proposals for a network of cycleways and public realm at Granton Harbour.

Connecting the 24,000sq/m marina to a new Hyatt Regency Hotel the landscape and public realm proposals aim to reference the area's industrial past while mitigating exposure to the elements.

Hard landscaping will combine sandstone slabs and setts, predominantly around the hotel courtyard, with bound gravel utilised in lower-traffic areas. These will be complemented by treated Scottish Larch in private gardens and on a wetland footbridge with contrasting clay pavers.

Planting beds will be incorporated within pre-cast concrete low seating walls, combining shelter with informal seating, with occasional sandstone, weathered steel and timber elements adding interest.

Detailing their approach Iglu wrote: "The development itself will start to create areas of localised shelter but this will, at heart, remain an exposed site. The public realm proposals look to enhance any shelter provided by the buildings and all components have been carefully specified so as to be suitable for this environment."

Planting will mirror these aims with tree-lined avenues using hardy European Hornbeam varieties to withstand the harsh climate of the Forth estuary with swale planting providing a further landscape buffer.

1 Comment

#1 Posted by patty on 18 Jan 2021 at 14:20 PM

This whole scheme looks poorly thought out (hard to even work out what part of the harbour it's located) I spent many a lockdown walk at Granton and came to really appreciate the existing soft and varied textures around the sea wall, which the designers have clearly not seen the value in retaining.

Post your comments