David Chipperfield Architects' new music venue in Edinburgh is protested by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS), as it is "too large and too tall" and will ruin views of the historic Royal Bank of Scotland building.

According to an article in Scottish Construction Now, the heritage body has issued a formal obligation to Chipperfield's new concert hall. 

The studio had released the updated version of plans in August, as the firm submitted its planning application to the city council. 

However, a new objection came from the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, claiming that the £45-million venue should be reduced in scale, and arguing that the building would “tower above” its New Town neighbour and “detract from the historic building’s character, greatly diminishing its special interest and status as the focal point of the east end of Edinburgh’s New Town plan”.

Commissioned by the IMPACT Scotland, the new music venue is being developed to be a new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, accommodating a 1,000-seat auditorium and a 200-seat studio for performance, with recording and rehearsal rooms, as well as an educational outreach programme. The new concert home is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors a year. 

"As the most important town house in Edinburgh and arguably in all of Scotland, it is imperative that any development is carried out with extreme sensitivity in order to protect the character and special interest of this outstanding listed building," stated the AHSS in its submission to the City of Edinburgh Council.

"While we welcome the proposal to build a new concert venue, we have concerns regarding the excessive scale and massing of the proposed extension, which, far from being subordinate to the listed building, will tower above it."

“This will detract from its character, greatly diminishing its special interest and status as the focal point of the east end of Edinburgh’s New Town."

"The proposal is too large and too tall for such a restricted plot, surrounded as it is by listed buildings, and as such represents an overdevelopment of the site. We’re also concerned about the way the proposed concert hall butts up against Dundas House."

Located within Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site at the eastern end of its Georgian New Town, the new venue will be replaced with an unremarkable office building and abut the rear of the Grade-A listed Dundas House (1771) on St. Andrew Square. 

The building seeks to do two things on an urban level: it will resolve the immediate urban conditions of the site, which is relatively concealed and at the intersection of several distinct neighbourhoods; and provide a fitting terminus at the end of George Street, the New Town’s principal axis, in a position where a grand public building was originally intended to be built.

On the other hand, the project received an important support from other heritage body Cockburn Association, which commented that "we welcome the considerable effort the developers have undertaken to positively consult with a wide variety of stakeholders throughout the development of the final design for this project."

"We acknowledge and welcome changes made throughout the design process because of the meaningful consultation and engagement exercises. Within the constraints of the available site, the proposed concert hall is an effective and positive use of space."

If the venue is completed in 2021, it will be Edinburgh’s first dedicated new space for music and the performing arts in 100 years.

Read more about the project on WAC's previous coverage.David Chipperfield Architects recently completed a new department store of Selfridges in central London. 

Previously, the Swedish National Heritage Board strongly opposed to Chipperfield's Nobel Center in Stockholm, as the proposed building will considerably damage to the national interest of Stockholm’s inner city.

All images © Hayes Davidson

> via Scottish Construction Now