Edinburgh Development Summary

[bestbud]

Edinburgh developments anyone?

[Chris99]

Milton, I wasn't aware that elements of the London Underground renovation were exempt from Barnett consequentials. So basically the Uk Govt can ignore the rules when they feel like it. Seems fair enough I suppose.

[milton]

Originally Posted by bestbud

Edinburgh developments anyone?

Yeah, sorry.
If agreeing with you, we're just talking. If disagreeing, then we're straying annoyingly off-topic?

[bestbud]

Originally Posted by milton

Yeah, sorry.
If agreeing with you, we're just talking. If disagreeing, then we're straying annoyingly off-topic?

Hmm, not really though. You must have missed my post of 9 days ago which clearly set out my position:-

Originally Posted by bestbud

We seem to have gone off topic here, so i've posted my reply in the Scotland Skybar if anyone is interested. *Here*

[milton]

Originally Posted by bestbud

Hmm, not really though. You must have missed my post of 9 days ago which clearly set out my position:-

Fair enough, fair enough. Don't really want to fight with you, mate. I was coming across wanky (more than otherwise) there, so apologies.

It is difficult in these situations though - sometimes threads do divert for a while, and it isn't the end of the world, ken?

[bestbud]

Nae need to apologise. We can all be a bit wanky sometimes.

[milton]

Originally Posted by bestbud

Nae need to apologise. We can all be a bit wanky sometimes.

Good man!

sook it, ya ride! etc.

[Pious Fraud]

Forth Bridge painting completed

BBC News 9th December 2011

The painting of the Forth Bridge has finally been completed and the structure is now scaffold-free for the first time in a decade.

The repair and repainting project to paint the rail bridge took 10 years and cost £130m.

It has been claimed it will not now need another paint job for at least 25 years. New techniques and products have been are behind the project's success.

A 400-strong team applied a triple layer of new glass flake epoxy paint.

It creates a chemical bond to provide a virtually impenetrable layer to protect the bridge's steel work from the weather.

The project, delivered by Network Rail and main contractor Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, involved encasing the bridge in up to 4,000 tonnes of scaffolding, painting over 230,000sqm of steel and all 6.5 million rivets in the structure.

Over the life of the project more than 1,500 people worked on the structure, with up to 400 people a day on the bridge at the height of the refurbishment works.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: "The completion of this refurbishment will safeguard the future of one of the country's most famous landmarks.

"Repainting the bridge has long been considered one of the world's never-ending tasks, and the refurbishment programme we have just completed has been one of the biggest engineering challenges Network Rail has faced.

"Our staff and contractors can take real pride in their achievements on this project, not least in the fact that through their efforts this amazing structure will remain free of major maintenance work for at least two decades."

The bridge, which was built between 1883 and 1890, is 1.5 miles long.

The track is about 150ft (45m) above the water level and the bridge reaches 330ft (100m) at the tops of the towers.

The steel structure contains more than 6.5 million rivets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-fife-16110496

[Pious Fraud]

Revealed: A bold new cultural quarter for Edinburgh

The Scotsman 9th December 2011

THE first images showing how Edinburgh’s historic Central Library would become the hub of a striking new cultural quarter are revealed by The Scotsman today.

Architects have drawn up plans for a “literary hotel” behind the 121-year-old landmark, which would itself be dramatically modernised and extended.

Disused vaults, derelict gap sites and vacant offices would be transformed to provide links between the buildings and create a complex aimed at rivalling major new libraries in cities such as Amsterdam and Seattle.

A new home for the Edinburgh Unesco City of Literature Trust, dedicated performance and event spaces, a glass-covered cafe, bars and restaurants would all be part of the complex, which would take over a massive chunk of the Old Town.

The plans, being pursued in a joint development between the city council and RBS, are being masterminded by Edinburgh-based architect Allan Murray and his team, who worked on the adjacent Missoni Hotel, which has won a clutch of design awards.

More here: http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/bo...urgh_1_1999946

[Pious Fraud]

Caltongate plan set to be revived

BBC News 15th December 2011

The redevelopment of Edinburgh's Caltongate site in Edinburgh's Old Town is back on the agenda.

A consortium, including South African developers, has bought part of the land, which has planning for a hotel, office complex, 30 shops and 160 homes.

The initial plans collapsed after developers Mountgrange Capital went into administration in 2009.

It was said to be the biggest development in the capital for a decade and attracted widespread opposition.

The new plans, for the site between Waverley railway station and the Royal Mile, are likely to be more modest.

The consortium, lead by Artisan Real Estate Investors, hopes to produce designs based on the previous plans in the new year.

Artisan managing director Lukas Nakos said: "Caltongate has remained the most prominent gap-site in Edinburgh's city centre for more than a decade - a situation we now intend to change.

"The sheer size and scale of the site, lying at the heart of one of the world's most historic city centres, offers unparalleled opportunities for a high quality development that can do justice to its unique and spectacular setting."

More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...iness-16197156

[belle]

It's worth looking at the banal crap that Artisan have developed through http://www.atterbury.co.za/index.aspx

[Pious Fraud]

Portrait Gallery kicks off ASA12 submissions

Urban Realm 12th January 2012

Page\Park’s recently completed work on the Scottish National Portrait Gallery has become the first project to be put forward for inclusion in the Architecture Scotland Annual 2012.

http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3291/...bmissions.html

[Chris99]

EGIP (Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme) - Network Rail - Haymarket 3d Fly Through.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6yLhHu9hyo

[Pious Fraud]

Edinburgh University receives £50m loan boost

BBC News 23rd January 2012

Edinburgh University is to receive a £50m loan from the European Investment Bank, it has announced.

The money will help fund a new climate change centre and improvements to its library in George Square.

The centre at High School Yards in the city's Drummond Street will be a hub for the study of global warming.

The university said it would provide a base for creating low-carbon solutions to the problems associated with global warming.

It will work alongside businesses, as well as local and national government, and will be supported by both Edinburgh Napier University and Heriot Watt University.

Professor Sir Timothy O'Shea, Edinburgh University's vice-chancellor and principal, said: "We are enormously grateful to the European Investment Bank for the offer of this loan, which we are delighted to accept.

"It will help to fund a range of new build and refurbishment projects that will enhance the quality of the research and teaching infrastructure at Edinburgh.

"It will also make a significant contribution to our commitment to energy efficient facilities for students and staff."

Over the last five years the European Investment Bank has given £1.6bn for education investment in the UK, including projects with Strathclyde, York and Bristol universities.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-fife-16681028

[Pious Fraud]

Waverley Steps refurbishment completes

Urban Realm 27th January 2012

Refurbishment works to one of the principal entrances to Waverley Station are to be completed this weekend, paving the way for a more comfortable pedestrian connection to Waverley Station.

For 145 years some 14,000 people a day have huffed and puffed their way up the 72 steps to reach Princes Street but from Monday they will be able to glide effortlessly up thanks to the installation of a bank of escalators.

Network Rail’s £7m refurbishment project has seen Morgan Sindall install a glazed canopy installed above the stairwell, held aloft by six sculptural pillars, sheltering three banks of double escalators to whisk folk up and down the 40ft climb.

This remodeling work has seen Jefferson Sheard Architects narrow the stairs to just half their original width with eight shorter flights of stairs replacing the original five. A central handrail has also been added for those determined to continue making the ascent.

In their design statement Jefferson Sheard said: “We have to carefully balance the history and the historic appeal of the station's architecture with contemporary needs and modern design. The result is a structure with presence and appeal, but a ‘light-touch', not competing with the grand sandstone buildings that surround it.”

A partial opening of the stairs as far as the Princes Mall will take place on Saturday, ahead of a full unveiling on Monday.

Two 16 passenger lifts will also be installed once following the opening, scheduled to open by July 2012.

http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3318/...completes.html

[RapidTaco]

And the residents of Edinburgh get that little bit fatter now that they don't need to use the steps any longer

[Chris99]

Like the entrance. Whole thing looks good.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Absolutely superb, always used to hate using those steps.

[Think Tank]

Leith biomass plant plans scrapped after local protest. Full story:

http://m.scotsman.com/edinburgh-even...lans_1_2107516

[Pious Fraud]

Edinburgh University lab extension submitted

Urban Realm 13th February 2012

Plans to erect a new £6.8m link building between three existing research buildings at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital have been submitted by Oberlanders Architects.

The scheme will provide a unified entrance point to the University of Edinburgh owned complex alongside additional research space, offices, meeting rooms and a lecture theatre.

The primary elevation comprises a gently faceted concave curve clad in glazed curtain walling, with additional elements of timber and brick.

In their design statement the architect’s state: “The new building is essentially single aspect, with primary research space orientated east to maximise views to the city skyline and Fettes. A central spine corridor running north to south connects the three buildings, opening out to a central atrium space.”

It is hoped to commence an 18 month construction phase from January 2013.

http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3352/...submitted.html