Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Best
Architecture
Edinburgh's unique beauty arises from a combination of its unusual site, perched
among craggy hills, and a legacy of fine architecture dating from the 16th cen-
tury to the present day. The New Town remains the world's most complete and
unspoilt example of Georgian architecture and town planning. Along with the
Old Town, it was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1995.
Old Town Tenements
One of the features of the Old Town is the biggest concentration of surviving 17th-century
buildings in Britain. These tenements, six to eight storeys high, were among the tallest in
Britain in their time. You can explore such tenements at Gladstone's Land ( Click here )
and John Knox House ( Click here ) .
Georgian Gorgeousness
Robert Adam (1728−92), one of the leading architects of the Georgian period, made his
mark in Edinburgh's New Town with neoclassical masterpieces such as Charlotte Sq (
Click here ) and Edinburgh University's Old College. Experience the elegance of Adam's
interiors by visiting the Georgian House ( Click here ) .
Modern Masterpiece
The plan for the New Town was the result of a competition won by James Craig, then an
unknown, self-taught 23-year-old. At the end of the 20th century another architectural com-
petition resulted in the relatively unknown Enric Miralles being chosen as the architect for
the new Scottish Parliament Building ( Click here ) . Though its construction was shrouded
with controversy, the building won the 2005 Stirling Prize for the best new architecture in
Britain, and has revitalised a near-derelict industrial site at the foot of the Royal Mile.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search