August 17 2018

CDA have filed plans for the office to hotel transformation of a vacant 1970s commercial block at Osborne Terrace, Edinburgh, to capitalise on surging tourist numbers and business stays.

Osborne House has been acquired by Yorkshire-based developer S Harrison with a view to carving out 157 bedrooms; accommodated within its floorplates in addition to two new build rear extensions clad in render and dark grey aluminium and a new rooftop extension.

In their design statement the architects said: “From Osborne Terrace, the proportions of the existing building appear quite squat. We are proposing a simple, high quality, single storey, curtain wall roof extension, which will contain additional hotel rooms and services.

“The ground floor of the new extension is adjacent to the proposed servicing bay and therefore needs to be a robust construction to accommodate delivery trollies and bins etc. As a result, it is proposed that this ground floor will be clad in concrete panels with recessed channels, which relates back to the concrete of the existing building and reflects the pattern of the fins on the upper floors.”

Rear elevations will be kept purposefully simple in deference to neighbouring residential properties.

8 Comments

#1 Posted by Sir Ano on 17 Aug 2018 at 14:23 PM

meanwhile in slantyland....

#2 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 17 Aug 2018 at 15:46 PM

Well done, a statement that makes sense!

“From Osborne Terrace, the proportions of the existing building appear quite squat. We are proposing a simple, high quality, single storey, curtain wall roof extension, which will contain additional hotel rooms and services.

“The ground floor of the new extension is adjacent to the proposed servicing bay and therefore needs to be a robust construction to accommodate delivery trollies and bins etc. As a result, it is proposed that this ground floor will be clad in concrete panels with recessed channels, which relates back to the concrete of the existing building and reflects the pattern of the fins on the upper floors.”

#3 Posted by Mansart on 18 Aug 2018 at 15:30 PM

It's just polishing a turd and adding another. The views of Donaldson's must be amazing though.

#4 Posted by TepidMouse on 18 Aug 2018 at 15:40 PM

Very very mediocre

#5 Posted by Is This Edinburgh on 20 Aug 2018 at 13:21 PM

Poor neighbours! Robust bins and servicing adjacent! The proposed extensions look awful. Massive overdevelopment too. And inevitably another budget hotel.

#6 Posted by CADMonkey on 20 Aug 2018 at 14:07 PM

This is a good example of an ugly brutal building on an important prominent site.
With its designed use now coming to an end and in these enlightened times, should the planners not be insisting on wholesale demolition and replacement?
Especially given its proximity to the Coltbridge and Wester Coates Conservation Area it adjoins.

#7 Posted by Ken? on 20 Aug 2018 at 14:10 PM

Love Osborne House. Despite its broad, stalky proportions and brutal façade, it sits quietly on the site. Or did rather when it was bare conc.
That extension proposal next to the adjacent cottages is quite ridiculous and the detail of that dull, standard top floor effort is not high quality!...looks like it taken from a bog standard glazing brochure.
Missed opportunity.

#8 Posted by alibi on 20 Aug 2018 at 21:25 PM

An underrated building that, IMO.

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