Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Winner of The Scottish Design Award for Re-use of a Listed Building 2017

With Malcolm Fraser Architects during the design and early construction stage, Calum was overseeing the project architect and design team. Further to the closing of Malcolm Fraser Architects, Calum Duncan Architects continued to oversee the construction stage through to completion.

The project involves major alterations and repairs of 1 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh including: Retail, Conference, Meeting and Office spaces for the REMT and additionally spaces for subletting on the upper floors. The alterations provide an opportunity to make repairs to the Category B Listed Baronial ‘Cockburn Hotel’ (Peddie and Kinnear Architects 1860), removing and repairing numerous piecemeal internal additions while improving its accessibility and clarity of circulation. A dated lift is removed from within the main stairwell, and a generous rooflight is introduced to re-center the building, in terms of orientation and character. Additionally opening up to the existing tenemental courtyard brings a new connection, light and the opportunity to practically reposition a new lift which gives, for the first time, lift access to all floors.

Location:  1-3 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh

Client:  The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Completed:  April 2016

Contract value:  £2.7m

Contract type:  Traditional JCT with Quantities

Contractor:  Taylor & Fraser

Design Team

QS: Thomson Gray

Structure: David Narro Associates

M+E: Harley Haddow

Lighting Design: KSLD

Greatest challenge:  The construction stage works were challenged by the fact that the most complex and onerous structural works focus around a tight space through which all other areas of the works are accessed. Due consideration and discussion formed part of contractor interviews to ensure an appropriate and suitably experiences contractor was appointed to manage the works and care for the building.

Awards:Scottish Design Awards: Re-use of a Listed Building – Winner