Tower named as top design for Old Town

Ron Galloway Associates, the architects, was yesterday revealed as the winner of an unofficial ideas competition to design a scheme for the gap site created by the blaze in the Old Town in December.

The contemporary design includes a 12-storey feature landmark tower along with three buildings, of up to seven storeys, constructed from traditional stonework with glass. The scheme envisages a range of uses, including offices, nightclubs, residential space and possibly affordable housing.

A new close from South Bridge would afford a view of St Giles’ Cathedral, while a second close would look out on the dome of Old College.

Dan Frydman, a former architecture student at Edinburgh University who organised the competition, said he was hopeful that the winning entry would be used to help design the structure that will actually fill the site.

"We have been very impressed with the quality of entries, especially from students, and although we would have liked more entries from city architects, we understand that this was a theoretical competition," he said.

"The themes that emerge strongly from the winning entries indicate that the new structure needs to re-establish a physical link between South Bridge and Cowgate as well as exploit the wonderful views that now exist.

"Any new structure would also have to cater for the vast array of functions that existed before, ranging from comedy venues to office space.

"The judges enjoyed the winning scheme’s reinterpretation of Old Town history, glancing views down closes, opening out of vistas to the university dome, St Giles’ and the Tron Kirk.

"The presentation suggested materials, plan, circulation and height that could be interpreted as alien to the Old Town, but the vigour and boldness of the submission were to be commended. The tower was seen as an increase in density rather than an attempt at a landmark, though it would be seen above the rooftops."

Ron Galloway said: "We are delighted and very pleased. It is a modern development and very contemporary. There is lots of glass, but the buildings would be constructed from historical stonework. It is a continuation of the Old Town’s closes, wynds and stairwells. There would be deep views through the site of the Tron and St Giles’. We also want to draw visitors from the Royal Mile across South Bridge by creating a loop and can, hopefully, stimulate regeneration of the area."

Mark Marshall, an architectural student at Edinburgh University, won the student category. The contest was an unofficial ideas competition, but it is regarded as a catalyst for any official development.

The southbridge.org.uk competition was organised by the web design firm Inigo Media and Adrian Welch, the editor of the website edinburgharchitecture.co.uk.