Outlook Tower Edinburgh photos, Castlehill tourist attraction images, Old Town building renewal architect, Address, Date
Outlook Tower : Camera Obscura Edinburgh
Camera Obscura in the Old Town Edinburgh renewal design by Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects, Scotland
post updated 30 October 2023
Location: 543-49 Castlehill, Old Town
building photos from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects
Outlook Tower Edinburgh
14 Sep 2010
Camera Obscura – Edinburgh
Design: Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects
Outlook Tower, located at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, is the capital’s oldest tourist attraction.
photos from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects
Involvement with the project dates back over 20 years, with earlier work dedicated to the restoration and repair to the existing buildings, and the internal development of the Tower.
photos from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects
The current and final phase of the project involves the development of the adjoining Ramsay Lane building. The introduction of external link spaces and reconfigured internal circulation spaces will enable the two buildings to operate as a single exhibition space, whilst remaining sympathetic to the history of the Castlehill site.
Camera Obscura images / information from Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects
Images from previously:
photo © Adrian Welch
Outlook Tower History
17th & mid-19th Century elements transformed by Patrick Geddes into the Outlook Tower in 1896. Contains a Camera Obscura dating from 1853 when the upper storeys were added probably by David Rhind
View looking east towards the building (left) from the Caste Esplanade:
Ramsey Gardens south facade, photo © Adrian Welch
Camera Obscura context : Scotch Whisky Experience
Edinburgh Walking Tours : Architecture Walking Tours
Outlook Tower Building
In 1892, Patrick Geddes, a pioneering Scottish urban planner, sociologist, and ecologist, assumed management of the site, renamed it the “Outlook Tower,” and organized it as a museum and urban study centre demonstrating his philosophy of planning, which was based on comprehensive surveys of the site, city, and region.
He installed a series of exhibits on progressively broader geographic themes as one ascended the tower — first the world on the ground floor, then Europe, the English-speaking countries, Scotland, and Edinburgh — with the camera obscura itself continuing to project a real-time image of the city at the very top. People from all walks of life were invited to come to the tower to study and learn about their city.
photo © Adrian Welch
Edinburgh Building Designs
Contemporary Edinburgh Architectural Designs – recent selection from this website:
Image above showing Earl Haig with, beyond, Ramsay Gardens on left, Outlook Tower and the Hub on the right
Adjacent to Edinburgh Outlook Tower is Edinburgh Castle to the west, and Ramsay Gardens
Comments / photos for the Outlook Tower – Camera Obscura Edinburgh Building renewal design by Crichton Lang, Willis + Galloway Architects, UK, at 543-49 Castlehill, page welcome