Calton Hill Observatory Refurbishment

After a four-year period of restoration, the Observatory (which had been left to degrade since the late 20^th century) has been refreshed and is now open again for visitors. The project consisted of the restored City Observatory, the City Dome with Transit House and newly built exhibition space. The Hillside, restaurant, and welcome kiosk have been built at the East Gate.

We worked closely with the project team to understand and incorporate requirements from funders into our design. We carried out a fabric-first approach to deliver buildings that would remain comfortable under all conditions, while using as little energy as possible.

Donald Wilson, City of Edinburgh Council's Culture and Communities Convener, said "Gazing over the city from the top of Calton Hill, the city observatory has played an important role in Edinburgh life for hundreds of years…It is surely one of the most significant conservation projects to take place in Edinburgh in recent times.”