Blackfriars St Flats Edinburgh, Old Town gap site building proposal news, Architecture

Blackfriars Street Flats Edinburgh

gm+ad Architects’ Edinburgh Housing for Ashford Property Group

Blackfriars Street

Old Town gap site empty for 20 years
Planning permission approved
70 student flats
Site: currently Radisson Hotel car park
Numerous failed planning applications since the 1980s
Developer: Ashford Investments
Height: seven storeys

20-48 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh EH1 1NE
Erection of flatted student accommodation and alteration to car park access
Full Planning Application Minded to Grant 19.07.07
for Ashford Investments LLP

Blackfriars St Flats – text + image from gm+ad Architects:

GM+AD rejects claims that Edinburgh scheme is ‘architectural vandalism’

Gordon Murray and Alan Dunlop Architects (gm+ad) has hit back at claims that its student flat scheme in Edinburgh is ‘architectural vandalism’.

The Glasgow-based practice – backed by Ashford Property Group – was given the green light to build 70 student flats earlier in the week, despite councillors being grudging over the design.

Practice partner Alan Dunlop said: ‘We recognise that it is a radical, contemporary project for Edinburgh but we have done our best to ensure that our proposals meet the aspirations of a World Heritage city and are sympathetic to the site.’

The original scheme (concept sketch pictured bottom) was previously rejected, with one city councillor, Colin Keir, saying: ‘I can’t support this application because it’s totally inappropriate for the area. It’s an example of architectural vandalism.’

The project was revised and the scheme voted through earlier in the week, with planning official Stephen Hajducki stating that the project was more than acceptable, adding: ‘We feel this building will fit in comfortably with the rest of the street.’

He said: ‘It is a modern building which doesn’t try to outdo the older ones; in fact it tries to pick up on some of the icons.’

Blackfriars St Flats context : SmartCityHostels