Yasmin Ali

Edinburgh architect Malcolm Fraser presented a talk at two scales: firstly, his work with the National Review of Town Centres in Scotland, which seeks to recommend general strategies for to improve the vibrancy and viability of Scottish Town Centres as places of economic growth and interest. Secondly, he presented a series of projects from his own practice which mediate sensible use of space and siting and reflect aspects of the thinking behind the report's principles in general, where appropriate.

The title 'Footfall' neatly summarises both the commercial aspirations of inner-city developers (particular retailers), and the human-scale consideration of Fraser's work. Stand-out projects included a mixed-use development in Stromness which mimicks the traditional urban form of enclosed courtyards to mask the effect of the wind, and a scheme for Lews Castle & Museum, currently on site, which breaks boundaries with its innovative use of displays and the landscape.

Fraser also provides a whistle-stop tour in slides of some of his best known arts buildings throughout Edinburgh, including the National Poetry Library, National Storytelling Centre and Dovecot Studios, all of which worked against some unworkable existing arts strategies. A new building to check out this Doors' Weekend is surely his recently completed Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), which fittingly, is the first ever development of its kind to achieve an “outstanding” rating from BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability rating system for the built environment.

The talk was the first in a series of lunchtime talks held at The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) for this year's Doors Open Day, which in Edinburgh's case has extended to a week of lively talks, walks and the obligatory weekend of exclusive building visits.