Haymarket
Earlier this year we were approached by Tiger Developments to be the master-planner for their bid for the former Morrison Street goods yard at the Haymarket, Edinburgh (shown above here superimposed on an historical aerial photograph circa 1900). We are delighted to report that Tiger have beaten off fierce competition and have now concluded missives with the City of Edinburgh Council. This very large and prestigious development will consist mostly of hotels and office accommodation with underground parking accommodation and a significant amount of new public space. We have already involved Sutherland Hussey Architects in the design of part of the site and Comprehensive Design Architects are also joining the team. The total value of the project exceeds £100m and a planning application for the entire site is expected in Spring 2007. This is a very important development for the practice and an exciting opportunity to make a new piece of the city. Images of the scheme will be published when the planning application has been submitted.
St Andrews Hospital
We are part of the 'Saltire Care' bid for this PFI project together with James Walker (Leith) Limited and Ogilvie Construction and this has been submitted to Fife NHS. Drawings will be published after that presentation. Here is an image of the exterior, showing a two storey development with light wells and natural ventilation towers.
Competition in Vejle
Although we do not know the winner of this competition for an arts centre for arts and workshop facilities, to which we had been invited, we do know that, unfortunately, we have not won. Nonetheless, it was a great privilege to be invited and we very much enjoyed the process on working on a very well run competition. A new web page for Vejle Spinning Mill describes our project.
Cowgate Social Housing and Office Completed
The project, commissioned in 2000, has finally been completed. New photographs are now published on the website and tenants have begun to move in. It is the final piece of a complicated jigsaw of renewal in the area between the High Street and the Cowgate, which overall has been a fifteen year process, masterminded by EDI. A brochure outlining all the developments in the area, acting as a tour guide, is available from EDI’s offices.
British High Commission, Sri Lanka on Site
The new British High Commission in Colombo is now beginning to take shape and the most interesting construction photographs are placed monthly on its page on our website. Here is an image of a valley roof being reinforced.
Foundations Laid for Medical Centre at Liberton
The contract for the medical centre at Liberton for Kilmartin Properties has been let to Interserve Building and foundations have already been laid. The project is due to be completed in eleven months.
Madonna and Child, County Galway
An “outhouse” for Rod and Sue Stoneman’s family and guests is approaching completion next to our Award winning house for them at Killenaran, County Galway. Known locally as the “Madonna and Child”, it provides two additional bedrooms and a self contained living area/kitchen and acts as guest wing to the main house.
Roses Award for Galeri Caernarfon
We are delighted that for the second year running we have won a Roses Award presented to our Client, Gwyn Roberts and Richard Murphy in Manchester. The Roses Award is for buildings outside the M25 and we received the Bronze Best Public Building Award for Galeri Caernarfon.
Lectures
Richard is twice in Venice this autumn. Firstly, to act as a tour guide to two of Scarpa’s most famous buildings in the Veneto - the Brion Tomb and the Museo Canoviano, Possagno on 26 October for the RIBA Conference. Richard is then back talking to the Irish Architects’ Conference two weeks later about Scarpa’s work in the city.
Scarpa is the theme also for a lecture in Budapest on Sunday 29 October, as part of the Budapest Architecture Month, 2006 being the centenary of Scarpa’s birth.
The work of the Practice is also subject to a lecture at the Edinburgh College of Art on Friday 1 December.
Events
The office celebrated its fifteenth birthday on Friday 13 October (sic) and were delighted that so many friends could celebrate with us. The office also welcomed many Edinburgh residents as part of the Cockburn Association’s Doors Open Day. Murray Grigor’s film about our work and the architectural models on display seemed to be the chief attractions.
Press
The Architects’ Journal of 1 June, featured an interview with Richard talking about the future of modern architecture in the city of Edinburgh. Richard suggests that the popular view that contemporary architecture is a threat to Edinburgh’s status as a world heritage site is erroneous. Entitled “Time for Edinburgh to Say Yes”, it summarises by saying - “Heritage should not be an immovable roadblock to progress. New architecture is a signature of an economically confident city - if Edinburgh cannot commit to radical regeneration, it risks alienating future inward investment”.
The Haymarket development received press attention over the weekend of 20/21 October.
On Friday 20 October the project was featured on the front page of the Evening News - entitled “Twin Hotel Plan for Haymarket - Developer unveils £200m scheme for eyesore gap site” and “£200m vision to fill the gap - Rooms with a View” and on Saturday 21 October an article in The Scotsman said - “The site offers tremendous scope for a high-quality mixed use development which will act as a catalyst to enhance the area. It will provide a focal point for businesses and residents alike.”
And Finally......
Richard has purchased a new microlight and with this comes the opportunity of specifying a registration if not already claimed by a previous aircraft. All UK registered planes begin with “G” leaving four letters and Richarde was delighted to discover that “G-RIBA” was still available! An invitation has been issued to the forthcoming President, Sunand Prasad, to use the plane as the RIBA President’s “Airforce 1” with Richard at the controls! Sunand is thinking about it…….
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