The Holyrood Project, Edinburgh: Urban regeneration within a world heritage site

The evolving design for the Scottish Parliament building has stimulated much professional and lay discussion. It is, however, a late arrival to the Holyrood Project, a joint public/private venture which aims to regenerate the run down northeastern edge of the Old Town. This setting, between the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyrood and the Salisbury Crags, gives the site a context which is full of stimulation and constraints. The bold landform of the Holyrood Park, the organic patterns of the Old Town compromised by industry and public housing and the needs of Tourist Edinburgh are only a few of the factors impacting on the master plan and the urban design proposals. This paper describes, discusses and reviews plans, proposals and realized projects within the Holyrood Project. It falls into five sections. 1 Introduction to the aims and objectives of the Project. 2 Short description of the site. 3 Discussion of master planning and design principles. 4 Description and evaluation of key completed projects. 5 Summary.