The site is the existing Caledonian Hotel, a 5-star hotel situated in Edinburgh’s West End. The existing hotel was constructed by the Caledonian Railway Company in 1903 to service the expanding Lothian Road Station. Featuring Renaissance-revival architecture and finished in rose-coloured sandstone, the hotel was celebrated as a symbol of the success of the city’s booming railway and trade network.
The site is located near Edinburgh Castle and bound by a World Heritage Site, this required a sensitive design approach to delicately insert a contemporary extension. Great care has been taken with the design, with the proposed scale and massing carefully considered to remain subservient to the existing hotel. The elevations are articulated in a way that respects the local character and heritage of both the existing hotel and wider area. This extends to the proposed material palette, using Locharbriggs Sandstone matching the materiality of the existing hotel. This is complemented by bronze-coloured aluminium windows and details, with the roof finished with high quality standing seam zinc that tonally matches the surrounding slate rooftops.
The extension will be highly sustainable with high levels of insulation throughout the building fabric, a sedum roof and air source heat pumps at roof level. The extension creates a new courtyard facing the spa area, this will be planted with wildlife friendly planting to encourage and enhance biodiversity. The landscape and courtyard area are also integral to the SUDS strategy for the site, reducing surface water and drainage issues.
The scheme has been granted planning permission and is currently on-site due to complete in Q4 2026.
