Edinburgh Park

The 43 acre site is situated adjacent to Edinburgh Business Park to the north, the City Bypass to the west and the Edinburgh-Glasgow railway line to the south. The undeveloped site- originally envisaged as future extension of the overall master plan vision consist currently of barren and windswept shrub land. Whilst the site is relative flat and featureless in has potential commanding views across to the Pentland Hills, Arthur’s Seat and Corstorphine Hill.

The landscape masterplan finds inspiration in the various aspects of the extended designed parkland of former 17 and 18th century estates which encircled the former urban conglomeration of the Old and New Town. Examples in close vicinity of the site are Gogarburn Park and Cammo Estate Park. The latter contained a composition double planted avenues, walled garden, water canal, outlook tower folly and grove of trees planted as roundels.

The proposed mixed urban development will create a network of park land, plaza’s, promenade and courtyards to create relaxing, safe and welcoming places providing for a spectrum of public activities. Trees will be planted to give spatial structure, ameliorate the micro-climate and intermediate between the scale of the buildings and the on ground experience of the site. With a close connection to the tramway the site will become a hub, buzzing with activity and providing a chance for to become a destination in between the city centre and the airport.

The urban design is based on a set of clear typologies such as street, courts and gardens with a clear definitions between back and fronts. Careful attention has been placed upon orientation, optimising view lines and aspects with regard to sunlight and wind conditions. The rich pattern of public and private spaces expressed in the plan can be achieved through the subtle differentiation of levels, promoting an easy balance between the needs of privacy and the pleasures of community life.