Over the course of his professional career, the department of Ebenzer James MacRae (1881-1951) designed everything from municipal housing, churches and libraries, to street furniture, power stations and swimming pools.
In the 1920s and 1930s MacRae was responsible for the burgeoning housing developments at Niddrie, Craigmillar, Prestonfield, Pilton, Stenhouse, Saughton and numerous other areas. The similarities in housing design in these areas is plain to see. Inner city areas also benefitted, with dilapidated tenements in the Old Town and elsewhere replaced by new, improved dwellings. Over 12,000 homes would be built under MacRae.
On the 140th anniversary of MacRae’s birth, we take a look at more than a dozen of his Edinburgh designs, most of which are still standing, used or inhabited to this day.
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1. Stenhouse housing estate
As Edinburgh grew outwards in the early to mid 20th century, MacRae was enlisted to design the new estates, including at Stenhouse (pictured). Photo: Callum Bennetts
2. Edinburgh police boxes
Ebenezer MacRae built more than 90 police boxes for the city of Edinburgh. These police boxes are unique to the city and many still remain on the streets today, despite being no longer used for their original purpose. Photo: Greg Macvean
3. Piershill Square
MacRae's team designed the housing at Piershill Square in the 1930s. The new homes replaced Piershill Barracks built in 1794. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
4. Peffermill Primary School
MacRae designed the handsome looking Peffermill Primary in 1938. The school was situated on Craigmillar Castle Road. Photo: JUSTIN SPITTLE