Stalled Haymarket plans finally advance
April 4 2013
Planning permission is already in place for a rejigged scheme by Richard Murphy Architects and CDA following an extended battle with heritage groups which saw initial mover to erect a 17 storey tower element cut down to size.
The scheme is already 20% pre-let, signifying the health of the Edinburgh property market, with chains such as Prezzo & Pret a Manger agreeing to lease space.
Adrian Ringrose, CEO of Interserve, said: "Edinburgh's Haymarket site remains one of the best city centre developments schemes to be found anywhere in the UK. It will provide a strategic gateway for the city centre, linking seamlessly with one of Scotland's busiest railway stations, as well as being adjacent to the city's new tram network.
"The proposals for a mix of leisure, retail and office space, linked by open public spaces, will act as a catalyst to regenerate the commercial heart of the area as well as create jobs.”
The Haymarket site is one of the last remaining significant gap sites in Edinburgh city centre
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12 Comments
#1 Posted by Brian on 4 Apr 2013 at 13:09 PM
PRETTY
#2 Posted by Egbert on 4 Apr 2013 at 13:49 PM
The long hotel block (running perpendicular to the Dalry colonies) looks pretty monolithic. Am I imagining it or were Page&Park not originally doing this element?
#3 Posted by Egbert on 4 Apr 2013 at 13:52 PM
Sorry, getting confused with the (similarly-stalled) Caltongate scheme... it was Sutherland Hussey who originally did the hotel. Anybody know if they're still on board?
#4 Posted by John Glenday on 4 Apr 2013 at 14:00 PM
Sadly not Egbert. Interserve tell me its just Richard Murphy and CDA now.
#5 Posted by Rob on 4 Apr 2013 at 14:30 PM
#2, #3 Egbert: This site has really been round the houses. Sutherland Hussey did a scheme and before that it was Reiach and Hall. Who is up next I wonder! Any bets?
#6 Posted by Designer on 5 Apr 2013 at 09:50 AM
Is it just me or does anyone else find Richard Murphy's large scale commercial projects to be quite ugly. Im sure its all very well thought out but I find the bulky facade fenestrations to be quite grim
#7 Posted by Neil on 5 Apr 2013 at 10:07 AM
#6 Grim indeed. Though, it's not a problem only for Richard Murphy. Page and Park, in particular but Hoskins, NORD who succesfully produce interesting work on a small scale and conservation work cannot design commercial buildings. It is a special skill that is required. Only Reiach and Hall and Murray and Dunlop have done it succesfully. Making architecturally interesting projects that are also a commercial success.
#8 Posted by Egbert on 5 Apr 2013 at 15:32 PM
#4 Thanks John. Yes, it is disappointing - while CDA are undoubtedly a safe pair of hands it would have been good to see SH allowed to stay involved in a project of this size and prominence. #6 and #7 - have to agree about Murphy (and the others mentioned). Elements of his 'house style' (stepped partitions, layering of planes, sub-Scarpa metalwork etc) not only seem to translate poorly stretched across buildings of this size but are also beginning to look pretty tired - could really do with some new ideas from him.
#9 Posted by Big Chantelle on 5 Apr 2013 at 18:42 PM
Utter shambles.
You're in one of the most beautiful cities on earth, surrounded by classical stone buildings so what does the architect do? Ah, designs some brutalist monstrosity with crappy stone cladding for 'context'. It's the St James's centre part 2.
Hope all you 'modernists' are happy with yourselves. It's because of you lot that our beautiful cities get gangbanged by 'utopian' masterplanners. Oh but I forgot, we can't design in a classical style anymore because wee Jimmy fae the Glasgow School of Art says it's backwards so hey ho, we're stuck with his idea of contemporary style.
Allah, gee me strength.
You're in one of the most beautiful cities on earth, surrounded by classical stone buildings so what does the architect do? Ah, designs some brutalist monstrosity with crappy stone cladding for 'context'. It's the St James's centre part 2.
Hope all you 'modernists' are happy with yourselves. It's because of you lot that our beautiful cities get gangbanged by 'utopian' masterplanners. Oh but I forgot, we can't design in a classical style anymore because wee Jimmy fae the Glasgow School of Art says it's backwards so hey ho, we're stuck with his idea of contemporary style.
Allah, gee me strength.
#10 Posted by ZiZi on 7 Apr 2013 at 14:13 PM
#6 - Richard Murphy's Timmer Market Clinic Aberdeen, Another example.
#11 Posted by Designer on 8 Apr 2013 at 10:13 AM
No. 10 is that the office and hotel complex in Aberdeen. I cant believe how ugly that development is.
#12 Posted by John Smith on 17 Apr 2013 at 13:07 PM
#10. Unlike this prioject, RM's Timmer Market clinic in Aberdeen is actually a health / residential development and respects the scale / form of the historic built fabric (though let down by the failure to use granite) unlike this proposal.
#11 - Do you mean Aberdeen in general or something specific ? I'm quite proud of Union St, though it should probably have been renamed Partition St some time in the 1920's.
#11 - Do you mean Aberdeen in general or something specific ? I'm quite proud of Union St, though it should probably have been renamed Partition St some time in the 1920's.
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