8/3/2019 AHSS Letter to City of Edinburgh Councillors

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The Glasite Meeting House33 Barony StreetEdinburghEH3 6NX

T: 0131 557 0019F: 0131 557 0049

E: fbcasework@ahss.org.uk W: www.ahss.org.uk

THE ARCHITECTURALHERITAGE SOCIETY

OF SCOTLAND

For the study andprotection of Scottisharchitecture

President: Simon Green Chairman: Peter Drummond

The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) is a registered charity: SC007554REGThe Society is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee: SC356726

The City of Edinburgh CouncilCity ChambersHigh StreetEdinburghEH1 1YJ

19 December 2011

Dear Councillor

COWGATE & SOUTH BRIDGE FIRE SITE 11/02998/FUL

We are writing to you prior to the meeting of the Development Management Sub-Committee on Wednesday to encourage you to discuss and reject the proposals for thefire site on the Cowgate/South Bridge. The Society remains disappointed in the proposalswhich are neither a reconstruction of the 18 th century scheme nor high qualitycontemporary design but an architectural fudge.

The AHSS contributed to the 2003 Planning Brief for the site and we are therefore frustratedto find that the proposals fail to comply with the following points agreed upon by partiesconsulted (par 6.9):

The end gable facing over Cowgate should be reinstated. The profile, width,height, architectural detailing and expression should mirror the gable directlyopposite. A laser survey of the previous gable was undertaken.

All traditional floor to floor heights from shop level upwards must be restored. Thecornice line above the ground floor and at eaves level should establish arelationship with those remaining.

The symmetry and rhythm of the Georgian facades of South Bridge must bereinstated/ reflected.

The Planning Report describes the proposed gable as reflecting the gable oppositerather than mirroring as required by the brief. The proposal is a poor pastiche not ascholarly use of classical detail or proportion. That reconstruction is intended by the Briefis emphasized by reference to the laser survey of the lost gable. The Report s mention ofauthenticity is a red herring.

The Report states that traditional floor to floor heights are to be constructed but that ismanifestly untrue. The proposed gable elevation has 4 floors of windows when thetraditional, and opposite gable, had only 3 floors. The attempt to fit 5 floors betweenstreet level and the eaves results in an uncomfortable elevation. If you look down SouthBridge the 2 storeys of windows above the shops are what give it a strong character and

8/3/2019 AHSS Letter to City of Edinburgh Councillors

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