Revival of a city icon
Gothic masterpiece is now modern, luxury flats,
IN a city full of iconic buildings, its Gothic grandeur has long helped it win a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors. Indeed, when Queen Victoria opened Donaldson’s Hospital in 1850, she said it was more impressive than many of her palaces.
It is also possible the magnificent architecture of the building that housed a school for the deaf inspired author JK Rowling’s depiction of Hogwarts in her Harry Potter series.
The category A-listed building – which had become near-derelict over the years – in the west of Edinburgh has now been converted into 112 apartments as part of a £70million restoration by City and Country.
Luxury home builder Cala is adding two curved wings in the grounds at the rear. Collectively, this has to be the priciest development of real estate in Scotland.
TV architect George Clarke – host of Restoration Man – has been working with City and Country and filmed a YouTube video at Donaldson’s before work was under way. The transformation is nothing short of stunning.
Donaldson’s is a prime example of the work of William Playfair, one of Scotland’s most famous architects. Octagonal turrets adorn all sides of the building, with original windows and eye-catching roof domes made from copper – these oxidised over the years, producing the distinctive green colour.
Much of the stone, originally from Binny Quarry in West Lothian, has been left untouched.
When repairs were necessary, stonemasons had to abseil down by rope from the Gothic towers. The high internal ceilings have allowed the developers sufficient space to create mezzanine areas in many of the apartments.
Such areas have bedrooms and bathrooms equipped with Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware.
There was also enough height to raise the floor level. It is believed the original design had the windows at such a height so that the children inside could not see out. A wide range of contemporary properties are available, from single bedroom apartments with double-height living space costing £360,000, to spectacular three-bedroom, south-facing penthouses with roof terraces costing £1,695,000.
Edinburgh’s New Year fireworks display would look amazing from such a vantage point.
Large areas of the gardens were excavated to provide underground car parking – a way to keep the lawns and pretty parkland clear of vehicles. Meanwhile, a central quadrangle laid in Caithness stone and decorated with flowers has been earmarked as a communal area for residents.
Work is under way to convert the former chapel, which will allow homeowners to socialise beneath stained glass windows.
For more information, contact the sales office on 0131 341 5102 or visit cityandcountry.co.uk.