October 24 2024

The full extent of a public garden surrounding the planned National Music Centre at the Royal High School has been unveiled.

The Royal High School Preservation Trust is converting the former Royal High School at Calton Hill into another cultural crown for the city, with an expansive green oasis at its heart.

An £8.4m budget is earmarked for the landscape design, with the promise that the space will be open to all and setting for a regular performance and events programme to establish the space as a destination in its own right.

Two distinct gardens are planned for either side of the Classical landmark, led by landscape architect and garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith in collaboration with OPEN.

Pol MacDonald, director of OPEN, commented: "OPEN is very proud to be involved with the Royal High School, assisting the Trust since 2015 in setting a new and uplifting vision for this iconic Scottish landmark. It is so exciting to be working with Tom Stuart-Smith and his team in creating an appropriate and environmentally conscious garden setting in the heart of our home town.”

Planting will be carefully considered to complement the Thomas Hamilton masterpiece with a selection of pine trees, gorse, heather and moor grass responding to the hilltop character while taking advantage of a deep set retaining wall - home to an attached pergola.

Revised plans from Richard Murphy Architects for the school were approved in July.

6 Comments

#1 Posted by EM0 on 24 Oct 2024 at 12:32 PM

I'd love to see the industrial part of Cowcaddens be cleared and replaced with something like this, it would be a much better arrival in the city when coming from Edinburgh and could really transform the entire city centre feel.

#2 Posted by KB on 24 Oct 2024 at 13:22 PM

I was just thinking of all the lovely projects that head Edinburgh's way - and absolutely no ill-feeling towards them.
Glasgow just has the feeling of a busted flush at the moment.

#3 Posted by Percy Thrower on 24 Oct 2024 at 17:14 PM

Surely the geometries of the planting beds could be a bit more apposite, given the unique context? Cf. Piet Oudolf planting layouts.

#4 Posted by Mansartarchi on 25 Oct 2024 at 13:02 PM

The gardens look great but I'd like to have seen a designated outdoor performance space to bring this building back into the public realm.

#5 Posted by KLD on 28 Oct 2024 at 11:30 AM

Looks nice, but does this site with Calton Hill immediately to the north and with Regent Road Park, Holyrood Park, Princes Street Gardens all very close really need a garden more than something that would create jobs?

#6 Posted by Rankielass on 5 Nov 2024 at 09:47 AM

#5 not really sure what you mean by create jobs, Edinburgh is a growing city with a low unemployment rate. What we need is affordable housing but I wouldn't suggest that for the Royal High site.

Post your comments