Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street Building Photos, Architect News, Project
Dovecot Studios Edinburgh Architecture
Redevelopment of Edinburgh Baths design by Malcolm Fraser Architects
Location: Infirmary Street, Old Town
Date built: 2008
Malcolm Fraser Architects
photos by Malcolm Fraser Architects
Dovecot Studios
Edinburgh is fortunate to have a wonderful new tapestry studio and two large exhibition areas in the heart of the city’s Old Town, a World Heritage Site, in close proximity to the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival Theatre and Edinburgh College of Art. Dovecot, Britain’s leading tapestry company, re-inhabits the first public swimming baths opened in 1885 in Infirmary Street– saving a derelict building that was on the Buildings at Risk Register.
photos by Malcolm Fraser Architects
The main workshop re-uses the main swimming pool space and the public viewing gallery retains the integrity of the original space, and this has become a new display area for the work of the studios. Dovecot’s design rooms, offices and supplementary accommodation have been located beneath the gallery space and a yarn library forms a vibrant and colourful visual backdrop to the working studio.
entry facade photos © Adrian Welch
The once subdivided entrance foyer (separate for men and women) has been made into a single welcoming space, and provides direct access to several gallery and exhibition spaces located within the former pools, while two floors of office accommodation are located within and above the ladies pool. The former laundry and boiler house have been altered to form five residential apartments accessed independently from the rest of the building.
Externally the existing stone walls of the original swimming pool are maintained and consolidated to form a robust base course, while new volumes are conceived as simple zinc clad boxes with large glazed elements maximising the qualities of light, space and city views.
Dovecot Studios Edinburgh building – images / information from Malcolm Fraser Architects 290109
Infirmary Street Building : Background
Dovecot Studios Architect : Malcolm Fraser
Scottish Capital Building Designs by Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser Scottish Capital Property Designs – key selection below:
Other Edinburgh buildings by MFA:
Dance Base
image : Steffen Schefer
Infirmary Street Baths Context : Cowgate, Edinburgh Old Town
Infirmary Street Baths
Date built: 1885
Architect: Robert Morham
Scottish Capital Building Designs
Contemporary Scottish Capital Property Designs – architectural selection below:
Infirmary Street Baths interior space : new offices
Comments / photos for the Infirmary Street Architecture – Dovecot Studios Building pages welcome