Radical new look for historic university site
● £75m project will see Teviot Row House overhauled and expanded Comment Neil Baxter
It has a proud history as the world’s oldest purpose-built student union building.
But the look of Edinburgh University’s iconic Teviot Row House is set to change for ever under plans for a multi-million pound modern extension.
The 125-year-old landmark will be overhauled and expanded into a new “student centre” bringing together services offered by the university and its students’ association.
It is expanded to radically transform the existing gothic-style building which is home to one of the bestknown Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues, Gilded Balloon, which has been based there since 2001.
Earmarked for a gap site between George Square and Bristo Square, the new building will include spaces for everythingfromstudentdevelopment and wellbeing services to cafes, foodhalls and venues for club nights.
University principal Sir Timothy O’shea added: “This inviting, inspiring space will underpin our vision to deliver an outstanding student experience. It will create a home from home where students feel welcomed and inspired to achieve their full potential.
The £75 million project is to be carried out in phases, starting next year with an overhaul of Teviot Row House getting under way, with completion notexpecteduntil2024.under the plans, which go on display at the university today, a rundown lane behind the existing building will be turned into a new public square with outdoor seating areas.
However, reaction to the student centre development has been mixed since images were posted on the university’s official Facebook page.
James Barisic said: “I love the way the proposed building fulfils the two main criteria of blocking out the light from Teviot and also looking utterly grim. What an outstanding way to ruin Teviot.”
Alan Francis said: “It’s like wearing a kilt jacket with a tutu, these are highly mismatched. Other European cities can successfully build new buildings with consideration of the old – why can’t this also happen in Edinburgh?”
Gavin Douglas, deputy secretary of the university, said: “We’ve been working on the projectwiththestudents’association for around 18 months. We’re still very much at the public consultation stage and are very much open to hearing what people are saying about the plans we’ve released.
“The architects have worked up a design which reflects aspects of the historic facade of Teviot, without trying to mimic or ape it in any way, that might be artificial. It is adding something and appropriate while fitting in with the existing scenery and landscape.
“The impetus for the project was to bring together the students’ association and university support services onto one site. They’re both pretty scattered around at the moment. We’re also really keen to refurbish Teviot. It could be a lot smarter and more accessible.
“We think the project will really approve the student experience – that’s our main reason for doing this. We’re working hand in hand with the student association.”
Patrick Kilduff, president of Edinburgh University Students’ Association, said: “We will work with the university to ensure students have the very best experience possible.
“We are particularly excited that this project is centred on Teviot Row House, the oldest purpose-built students’ union in the world. Its refurbishment and the adjacent development will ensure it remains fit to serve and support students as their needs evolve.”
If it is done right, modern furniture can look great in a historic setting. Equally, so can modern architecture.
This particular area has architecture from many different eras. It is a bit of an architectural zoo in terms of the different styles that sit reasonably comfortably together. It is not unpleasant.
While there are those who feel that everything that is done in an environment with any history should be historical, it would be a rather odd philosophical position to adopt. Surely you should build according to what is appropriate to your time.
There should be no argument against modernism, because Victorian and Georgian architecture was modern in its time. The beautiful Chapel of St Albert the Great, which is attached to the rear of a Georgian building in George Square, is not far away and works really well.
The extension to the National Museum of Scotland was very contentious at the time. It was well known that Prince Charles objected to it. His argument was that you cannot attach something new to something old. Of course you can, as long as you do it well. You have to have wise heads with appropriate experience and there are also good safeguards with the planning system. ● Neil Baxter is secretary and treasurer of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.