Edinburgh Development Summary

[M_Riaz]

Well done the Rekians, you will reap what you sow... fantastic achievement here for the country.

[Chris99]

Originally Posted by M_Riaz

Well done the Rekians, you will reap what you sow... fantastic achievement here for the country.

Great stuff.

(pardon my ignorance but what's a 'Rekian'?)

[Chris99]

Originally Posted by Irish Blood English Heart

£1.2bn from central Govt & the balance from the local council.

http://www.cnplus.co.uk/amey-beats-c...628978.article

I wonder why the Uk Govt is being so generous to Sheffield? Bit of a puzzler that one eh?*

[Leki]

Originally Posted by Kinn

I do live in Edinburgh and I don't believe that there is a single resident who hasn't noticed the shocking state of the city's roads, in fact the entire traffic management system is in a state of disrepair.

The roads are fairly terrible but a lot of it is utility reinstatements which have sunk/disintegrated. I do feel sorry for councils in general - they can resurface as much as they want but all they need is a couple of rounds of shoddy reinstatements and the road resembles the surface of the moon again.

I'm quite interested to know what you mean by traffic management. I have never found driving in Edinburgh as bad as 'public opinion' (aka Johnston Press) says. That said, if your route happens to be near the miles of tram works I can't imagine it's great at the moment - although I certainly think it will be worth it!

[M_Riaz]

Originally Posted by Chris99

Great stuff.

(pardon my ignorance but what's a 'Rekian'?)

Sorry i got the spelling wrong Chris, i call the Edinburgh folks Reekians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh

Nickname(s): "Auld Reekie", "Athens of the North", "Edina", "Dunedin"



Motto: "Nisi Dominus Frustra" "Except the Lord in vain" associated with Edinburgh since 1647, it is a normal heraldic contraction of a verse from the 127th Psalm, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"

[R.K.Teck]

What's this bridge over Leith Walk, and a very long street running along disused railway lines, claimed to be like the Edinburgh equivalent of La Rambla in Barcelona? Came up in discussion today but I hadn't heard of it before, sounds intriguing.

I'm off to see what I can find.....

A NEW “green bridge” over a troubled roadway is among ideas put forward as part of a bold new vision for Leith Walk.
A £3.2 million fund to restore Leith Walk and the waterfront after they were dropped from the tram project could help pay for the bridge.

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-ev...rack-1-2342075

[R.K.Teck]

More on that bridge:

ONE OF the key thoroughfares affected by disruption from Edinburgh’s tram works would become home to a major new “green bridge” under a bid to kick-start its regeneration.

Disused railway lines which used to run across Leith Walk – one of Scotland’s longest streets – would be brought back into use and linked by a striking new structure if funding can be secured for the project.

And the bridge would become home to walkways and community-run gardens, such as those which feature on similar structures in New York, Paris and London.

It is hoped the new bridge, which would replace one demolished in 1980, will revive long-delayed plans to transform Leith Walk into Scotland’s answer to Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

Part of a £3.2 million fund, set aside to “restore” Leith Walk and the waterfront after they were dropped from the tram project, could help pay for the bridge.

Continued at:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transpo...commentssort=1

[Ultima]

The bridge looks amazing. Would absolutely love to see something like this in Glasgow.

[Ultima]

Does anybody know what they are constructing beside Edinburgh Castle at the moment? Not seen it myself, asking for a friend.

[RapidTaco]

http://scottishcities.wordpress.com/...ty-statistics/

Geoff Duke appointed as Director of Scottish Cities alliance.

[leadensky]

Originally Posted by Ultima

Does anybody know what they are constructing beside Edinburgh Castle at the moment? Not seen it myself, asking for a friend.

Like a mini-stadium for the military tattoo and concerts during the festival. it goes up every year about this time.

[Leki]

Cowgate blaze site revamp to begin in weeks

By DAVID McCANN
Published on Saturday 23 June 2012 12:18



CONSTRUCTION of a major development on a notorious Old Town gap site which has lain empty for nearly a decade is set to begin within weeks.

An Ibis hotel, shops and a nightclub will be created as part of £35 million proposals for the derelict site in the Cowgate, which succumbed to a massive fire in December 2002.

Around 200 jobs are expected to be created under the SoCo plans – billed as the “largest city centre regeneration scheme in many years” – which will see the erection of a 259-bed hotel, two shops on South Bridge, two other commercial units and the revival of La Belle Angelle nightclub, which perished when the blaze broke out in rooms above it.

New public and civic spaces, as well as fresh routes between the Cowgate, Chambers Street and South Bridge will also be created.

Developer Jansons Property has commissioned an archeological survey that is nearing completion and it is understood initial works could begin within a fortnight.

The full development is expected to be finished by late summer 2013.

From the Evening News site

[Heightlover]

Oh great. Just what Edinburgh needs, another bloody badly constructed sandstone and granite building in the form of an afterthought. Why can't they just get on with it? What's to become of that whole 'SoCo' plan now? What a joke. What's the odds that all those stairways will be used as public urinals in the early hours, and the new seating areas will be full of drunk clubbers eating their take-aways on the ground?
And as for that bridge over Leith Walk. Yeah, I'd love to walk over that in the dark. There have been times when walking in that area with two feet firmly on the ground at night has been scary enough without having the prospect of being chucked off something by my mugger. Scotlands 'Las Ramblas'? Oh, please. More like Las Rambling Idiots in the planning offices. Well, the council could be on to something, construction on Barcelona's Sagrdada Familia began over 120 years ago, more or less when Edinburgh began the current trams.
I don't know why so many Edinburgh ideas and plans are even released into the public domain when about 95% of them drop off the face of the earth never to be spoken of again and the 5% we do get are really badly watered down versions of the original. I've lost count of the amount of 'masterplans' and 'quarters' this city has been promised.
Well, I'm not gonna go on and on, instead I'm gonna hop on a tram down the Walk to the Guggenheim Museum at the Shore before dining in the restaurant on the top floor of that huge skyscraper, which by the way, I'll sail my yacht through as the sun sets.
(All previously released ideas)

[Heightlover]

I've thought that it may be an interesting and funny idea to list all the things we have been told would maybe come to this city in the past. I'll start:
1. A Guggenheim Museum in Leith Docks
2. A giant Ferris wheel in Leith
3. A giant windfarm behind Ocean Terminal
4. St. James Centre redevelopment
5. A roof over Rose Street
6. Shopping centres under Princes Street
7. A 300-foot skyscraper in Leith
8. A new Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens
9. A 'iconic beacon' skyscraper in Haymarket
10. An 'iconic' Haymarket Station
11. A World Trade Center to 'rival Barcelona and Mumbai'

If you can think of more, please add!

[RapidTaco]

Originally Posted by Heightlover

I've thought that it may be an interesting and funny idea to list all the things we have been told would maybe come to this city in the past. I'll start:
1. A Guggenheim Museum in Leith Docks
2. A giant Ferris wheel in Leith
3. A giant windfarm behind Ocean Terminal
4. St. James Centre redevelopment
5. A roof over Rose Street
6. Shopping centres under Princes Street
7. A 300-foot skyscraper in Leith
8. A new Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens
9. A 'iconic beacon' skyscraper in Haymarket
10. An 'iconic' Haymarket Station
11. A World Trade Center to 'rival Barcelona and Mumbai'

If you can think of more, please add!

You've been reading The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News too much - both guaranteed to fill your head with utter garbage.

[Kenspeckle]

More on the Leith Walk bridge proposal. http://www.biomorphis.com/Leith%20Walk.html. I think a lot of us are skeptical about this ever being realised, and perhaps with good reason, but something as ambitious and beautifully designed as this should always be applauded.



Leith Walk Regeneration - Leaf Bridge

Cycling through Edinburgh in between roof-tops on the tracks of the former Caledonian Railway's Leith New Lines.

The new route will provide a direct access from East Edinburgh to Pilrig park cycle tracks and the West..

The bridge structure has been developped with an optimized pattern of simple straight timber boards suspended from two main kevlar cables.

Views towards Calton Hill and through the frame down Leith Walk.

The spacing of the elements allows for free air flow and visual connections with the street.

The problem of the self obstructing bridge became a system of interlocking modules open to the elements.

There seems nowadays to be a confused relationship between the citizens of Edinburgh and our own city. Major decisions are born from consultations but their outcome can be so ill-managed that we are simply left estranged. Let’s not talk about the tram for a while. Let’s rather talk about tomorrow’s Edinburgh and what could be its next most important decisions.

URBAN ECOLOGY - TRANSITION CITY

The transport sector produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector in Scotland. But town planning strategies and local policies can call upon a number of initiatives to reduce this source of pollution. More than 300 communities around the world have already joined the “Transition Towns” movement, commencing the process of reducing their dependency on oil. In the same spirit, local associations in Edinburgh like Greener Leith and Leith Open Space are trying to raise citizens’ awareness about environmental issues which concern not only Leith. Edinburgh council has been looking for a vision for Leith Walk and we believe that this vision has to embrace the whole city: the network might be the key, but not any network. A network which belongs to the city’s history, which links the seemingly unlinkable. Edinburgh needs a new landscape which should depend on existing and underlying links. Some of them are missing, while the chains are already clearly visible from above. One can see patches of green, cycle paths but Leith Walk as a central divider. Why? Because Leith Walk has its own logic, its own flow. Going against it is like going against a river. Leith Walk needs a bridge which would link the east cycle path from Portobelo right to Pilrig Park and the west of the city. A bridge which would redirect the ever-growing flows of bikes and pedestrians who are simply crossing the city. The bridge would not only bring a solution to the network’s short circuit, it should also become a landmark.

A SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

One might argue that building a bridge above Leith Walk sounds almost Herculean. Yes, but for one location: The old elevated railway tracks from Gordon Street to Jane Street, where there was once a bridge. The structure is just there waiting.

So what would the bridge be made of? What kind of bridge should it be? The idea is to bring a lightweight structure with low embodied energy. Construction materials based on plant products represent the way forward in terms of diminishing our dependence on hydrocarbons. Therefore timber would represent an excellent choice of material. Locally and bio-sourced timber provides an excellent ecological solution. The whole frame should be sourced from local artisans and locally assembled.

A CONTINUOUS WILDLIFE CORRIDOR

We talked about the bridge but what would the new path look like? The idea is to emulate what has been done in other great cities like Paris and New York. In both cases, disused train tracks became not only public paths but elevated parks and gardens. The Paris experiment known as “Promenade plantée” had its doubters when in the 1980s the run-down area of La Bastille was designated for an overhaul that would not only preserve the old railway arches, but also would provide an unlikely park. The arches got renovated and new businesses arrived. The area is now a must-go for local residents and visitors alike. Years later, the New York “High-Line” seemed like a no-brainer. Chicago, Philadelphia and many more are also now actively reclaiming their lands.

So what kind of garden here? A garden for all, a park made of communal gardens. The new gardens would allow neighbours of all backgrounds to share time and experience to become the new eco-citizens of Edinburgh. Communal gardens can change the social relations of the city by giving a sense of ownership to all. The gardens would naturally encourage biodiversity and offer a natural animal habitat.

The idea of a bridge above Leith Walk is not new but our latest attempt is now generating a growing momentum which could prove decisive. Business leaders will remain sceptical about it. But the idea here could not bring more value for less money. Can our city afford turning 500m of disused train tracks into self- developed gardens and build a bridge out of timber boards? Let’s really hope so.

[Leki]

I like the bridge idea, it looks similar to something I'm sure I read about in the US where they turned a similar disused high level railway into a park. Although it looks like there might be a problem making it a through cycle route. I'm sure the former railway viaduct comes to a dead end at roof level just out that picture to the left, and flats have been built in the path beyond, so I don't actually see how they can connect the eastern end - unless I've missed something.

[Kenspeckle]

Originally Posted by Leki

I like the bridge idea, it looks similar to something I'm sure I read about in the US where they turned a similar disused high level railway into a park. Although it looks like there might be a problem making it a through cycle route. I'm sure the former railway viaduct comes to a dead end at roof level just out that picture to the left, and flats have been built in the path beyond, so I don't actually see how they can connect the eastern end - unless I've missed something.

The Pilrig Park end (NW not east) slopes to ground level and there's already a footpath from the park that would link to the viaduct.

These images might help.




The eastern end (Halmyre Street?) access would look like this.



And yes, the High Line in NYC is definitely an inspiration.

[Kenspeckle]

ONE of Scotland’s leading architects has been appointed to head a multi-million-pound transformation of one of the jewels in the crown of Edinburgh’s cultural landscape.

Malcolm Fraser has been charged with masterminding a study into how to modernise the Scottish National Gallery, which holds many of the nation’s premier artworks. Eight years after completing a lengthy project to create an underground link between the Royal Scottish Academy and Scottish National Gallery buildings on The Mound, officials have set their sights on overhauling ageing gallery spaces.

The key aim will be to transform the basement area in which the Scottish Collection is currently housed. Critics claim that while the upper floors contain masterpieces by world-famous artists such as Raphael, El Greco, Velázquez, Rubens, Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Gauguin, the works of some of Scotland’s finest painters have been neglected.

If the revamp goes ahead, it will follow the highly successful overhauls of the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, which will be officially reopened by the Queen tomorrow. Although SNG officials will not divulge how much they are budgeting for the project, the museum scheme cost £47 million and the smaller portrait gallery £17m.

Fraser’s practice beat Reiach & Hall, Sutherland Hussey, and Gareth Hoskins, who was involved in the highly successful overhaul of the National Museum of Scotland, in a competition held to find an architect to look at a revamp of the gallery’s Scottish Collection. It is understood a redesign of existing gallery spaces throughout the buildings – rebranded as the Scottish National Gallery last year – is also being looked at as well as revamping the main entrances.

Critics say they expect the Galleries to give much greater exposure to Scottish art once the overhaul, which is expected to take several years to bring to fruition, is complete. Allan Ramsay, Sir Henry Raeburn, Sir David Wilkie and William McTaggart are among the major Scottish artists whose work can be seen there.

One insider said: “The displays of Scottish paintings and drawings at the national gallery has long been seen as a joke. This was always going to be the next priority after the portrait gallery project was completed and I’m sure talks with potential funders are already up and running.

“There are no other major cultural projects in the city at this kind of planning stage and it would be the next major project to come to fruition.”

Officials are also said to be frustrated that the galleries have lacked the showcase entrances boasted by other leading international attractions.

Major new entrance areas were one of the main changes at the National Museum of Scotland when it underwent its recent overhaul.

Another key task for the Galleries will be creating better links between the existing lower galleries and the new facilities opened up by the Playfair Project. This involved constructing a major new side entrance to the A-listed gallery buildings, overlooking Princes Street Gardens, as well as a cafe, restaurant and shop.

Fraser has a strong track record working on major cultural projects as well as helping to revitalise historic buildings. Among his best-known projects in Edinburgh have been the Dance Base complex in the Grassmarket, the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Scottish Poetry Library, in the Old Town, and Scottish Ballet’s headquarters in Glasgow.

His practice is already working on plans to transform Lews Castle, Stornoway, into a hotel, museum and heritage centre. Fraser said he was not able to go into detail about his winning proposals until the feasibility project was completed.

But he added: “The presentation of the Scottish Collection attracts frequent and justified criticism. We need to resolve some of the ambiguities and present it better.”

The Galleries said the project was still in its early stages and no decisions had yet been made on funding. The institution managed to raise more than £30m for the Playfair project, with fundraising getting underway in 1999 and the project being unveiled by the Duke of Edinburgh in time for the 2004 Edinburgh Festival.

A spokeswoman said: “We have commissioned Malcolm Fraser Architects to conduct a feasibility study into the possible refurbishment of certain areas including the lower galleries which house the Scottish collection at the Scottish National Gallery.

“At the moment, there are no definite plans in place as it will depend on the outcome of this report. This work is still ongoing and an announcement will be made in due course when we are in a position to do so.”

http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on-...vamp-1-2386200

I wish the project well as it is long overdue but, that said, from a shortlist of Reiach & Hall, Sutherland Hussey, Gareth Hoskins and Malcolm Fraser the latter seems the least exciting choice by some margin. It's also surprising that Page/Park weren't in consideration after their excellent work on the SNPG. I only wish the NGoS were showing more ambition - a purpose built gallery devoted to the Scottish collection, something of similar scale and quality to the proposed V&A Dundee or Norway's redeveloped National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design. How exciting it would be to see a dynamic new gallery built in the place of the eyesore that is Argyle House on Lady Lawson Street or perhaps on top of (or in place of) Castle Terrace car park, thereby allowing the galleries to still be linked by Princes Street Gardens.

[rg1980]

New retail developments:

Kiehls (Assembly Rooms) with the biggest stand alone store in Europe:

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottis...ooms-1-2363490

Rox (Assembly Rooms):

http://www.professionaljeweller.com/...1m-investment/

Mulberry (Multrees Walk). Plans submitted to move from current unit to larger premises previously occupied by DAKS:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov...=M6BZP1EWLO000

Hugo Boss (Multrees Walk). Plans submitted for former Firetrap store:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov...=M56UUMEW09Z00